25-hydroxyvitamin-d-2 and Short-Bowel-Syndrome

To determine whether children with short bowel syndrome had evidence of metabolic bone disease, total body bone mineral content was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in 18 patients and 36 age-, sex-, and race-matched control subjects. Children with short bowel syndrome had decreased bone mineral content compared with control subjects; however, it was not significant when adjusted for differences in weight and height. Whether these children will have normal bone accretion throughout puberty is not known.

Topics: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; Bone Density; Calcitriol; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Male; Parenteral Nutrition; Short Bowel Syndrome

Four infants with less than 35 cm of jejunum and ileum remaining following neonatal operations and after being weaned from long-term total parenteral nutrition onto an "elemental" formula, developed the syndrome of vitamin D deficiency rickets at 9-15 mo of age. The diagnosis of rickets was confirmed by biochemical and radiographic findings. Serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25 OHD) values were significantly lower than normal and oral 25 OHD absorption studies indicated severe vitamin D malabsorption. This report emphasizes the importance of prospective assessment of all neonates having distal ileal resection to detect the early stages of vitamin D deficiency rickets.

Topics: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; Cholestyramine Resin; Humans; Hydroxycholecalciferols; Ileum; Infant; Jejunum; Malabsorption Syndromes; Postoperative Complications; Rickets; Short Bowel Syndrome