| Title | Hypocalcemia and tetany caused by vitamin d deficiency in a child with intestinal lymphangiectasia. | | Author(s) | Lu YY, Wu JF, Ni YH, Peng SS, Shun CT, Chang MH | | Institution | Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of. | | Source | J Formos Med Assoc 2009 Oct; 108(10):814-8. | | Abstract | Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia is a rare disease of children, which is characterized by chronic diarrhea and complicated with malnutrition, including fat-soluble vitamin deficiency. We report a girl aged 4 years and 8 months who was diagnosed with the disease by endoscopic duodenal biopsy at 8 months of age. She presented initially with chronic diarrhea at 4 months of age. Generalized edema with hypoalbuminemia frequently occurred despite regular albumin supplements. Multiple vitamins initially were not supplied regularly. Episodes of tetany caused by hypocalcemia developed 4 years after the diagnosis of intestinal lymphangiectasia. Imaging study (long-bone X-ray and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) revealed low bone density. Complicated vitamin D deficiency [low serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentration (< 12.48 mmol/L, the detection limit)] and secondary hyperparathyroidism were confirmed via blood testing. Vitamin D supplementation for 3 months improved her bone density, secondary hyperparathyroidism and frequent tetany. Vitamin D status should be monitored in patients with intestinal lymphangiectasia. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
| | PubMed ID | 19864203 |
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