ANTICONVULSANT DRUG-INDUCED OSTEOMALACIA - ALTERATIONS IN MINERAL METABOLISM AND RESPONSE TO VITAMIN-D3 ADMINISTRATION

Parameters of mineral metabolism were examined in 6 patients with moderately severe anticonvulsant drug-induced osteomalacia. Compared to 15 matched controls, the patients exhibited significantly reduced serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration, elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) concentration, reduced intestinal47Ca absorption, reduced urinary calcium and increased urinary hydroxyproline excretion, and reduced forearm bone mass. Intestinal absorption of vitamin D3 was normal. Following 4 months of treatment with vitamin D3 (4000 units/day), serum 25-OHD concentration was increased to 3 times mean normal values and all parameters except serum iPTH, urinary calcium excretion, and forearm bone mass were returned to levels not significantly different from normal. Serum iPTH concentration was reduced by 39% (P<0.05); 24-h urinary calcium excretion rose by 98% (P<0.001), and forearm bone mass increased by 5.6% (P<0.05). It is concluded that moderate-dose vitamin D3 supplementation is effective in normalizing parameters of mineral metabolism in this disorder, despite evidence of resistance to the biologic effects of vitamin D. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.