Vitamin D-dependent Rickets – Case report <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

Introduction: Rickets is defined as the failure of osteoid to calcify in a growing person. Vitamin D-dependent Rickets occurs when the metabolites of vitamin D are deficient, a relative easy manageable and avoidable etiology.
Objective: To report a case and review literature about etiopathology and treatment of this condition.
Case report: A two-years-old male patient, with no history of any medical condition, presents with progressive difficulty to walk. The child had normal exposition to ultraviolet light,was breastfed for 8 months, but has received no vitamin D oral supplement. On the physical examination there is an evident deformity of the bones, specially arms and legs. The metaphysis are larger than usual and an incurvation is seeing on the epiphysis. Laboratorial and imaging investigation leads to the diagnosis of Vitamin D-dependent Rickets.
Discussion: There are many etiologies that leads to Rickets, like renal or liver’s diseases, primary disturbances or deficiency of the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. Those etiologies usually provide a long period of investigation and treatment. The Vitamin D – dependent Rickets is therefore important because of it’s relative easy diagnosis and treatment, and specially because there is possibility to avoid it.
KEY WORDS: RICKETS; VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY; DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS.