JRSM > Volume 97, Number 7 > Pp. 322-325

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Send a Quick Comment Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Quick Comments are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Peacey, S. R Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Routine biochemistry in suspected vitamin D deficiency

Steven R Peacey MD FRCP  

Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Duckworth Lane, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD9 6RJ, UK

E-mail: srpeacey{at}talk21.com

Vitamin D deficiency, which continues to be widespread amongst persons of Asian descent in the UK, is often detected from abnormal results on routine biochemistry. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of abnormal results from routine baseline tests of serum calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase in patients who subsequently proved to have vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism. A retrospective examination was undertaken to assess these baseline indices in a cohort of 84 such patients seen in Bradford—5 male; 80 of Asian descent; median age 46 years (range 16-82); serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D<10 µg/L; parathyroid hormone >54 ng/L.

Calcium was normal in 55 patients (66%), phosphate in 68 (81%) and alkaline phosphatase in 24 (29%). In only 5 patients were all three indices outside the normal range. The median parathyroid hormone concentration was significantly greater in patients with abnormal routine biochemistry (145 [range 55-1662] ng/L) than in patients with normal routine biochemistry (88 [59-322] ng/L) but the median 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels did not differ (3.1 [1.3-9.9] and 3.0 [1.5-7.3] µg/L). Routine biochemistry was normal in 20% of cases.

If routine biochemistry is relied upon to detect vitamin D deficiency and osteomalacia, a substantial minority of cases will be missed.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S C Allen and S Raut Biochemical recovery time scales in elderly patients with osteomalacia J R Soc Med, November 1, 2004; 97(11): 527 - 530. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]