Iatrogenic Osteomalacia in Epileptic Children

Christiansen, C, Redbro, P., and Theger Nielsen, C. (Departments of Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Physiology, Paediatrics and Neurology, Glostrup Hospital, 2600 Glostrup, and Department of Clinical Physiology, Aalborg Sygehus Syd, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark). Iatrogenic osteomalacia in epileptic children. A controlled therapeutic trial. Acta Paediatr Scand, 64:219, 1975.–Bone mineral content (BMC) in the forearms (related to total body calcium) was measured for a controlled therapeutic trial in 25 epileptic children on long‐term treatment with phenytoin and in 22 normal children before and during treatment with vitamin D or placebo. In the epileptic children, hypocalcaemia and elevated serum alkaline phosphatase was found in 20% and 16%, respectively. The group of epileptic children treated with vitamin D2 (2000 IU daily) for 3 months showed a significant increase in bone mineral content, 5% on average. The epileptic children treated with placebo showed a significant decrease, 2% on average, while the normal children treated with vitamin D or placebo showed no change in bone mineral content. The results indicate a possible benefit of prophylactic vitamin D treatment in epileptic children.