cholecalciferol and Drug-Overdose

An 8 yr, intact male red-rumped agouti ( Dasyprocta leporina) was evaluated for weight loss. Examination revealed poor body condition, hypercalcemia, elevated serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, metastatic calcification of soft tissues, and hyperechoic kidneys. The diet, formulated for laboratory rodents, contained elevated levels of vitamin D

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Animals, Zoo; Cholecalciferol; Dasyproctidae; Diet; Drug Overdose; Male; Rodent Diseases

The recommended daily allowance of vitamin D has been increased. Toxicosis in pets may increase as a result. A dog ingested ~ 200 000 IU of vitamin D, serum concentrations were above the reference range (RR) and decreased to the RR after lipid treatment. This is the first known report of lipid treatment for hypervitaminosis D.

Topics: Animals; Cholecalciferol; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Drug Overdose; Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; Male; Vitamin D

The Blank Park Zoo began suffering mortalities in the spring of 2012 within a flock of 229 captive budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) housed in an interactive public-feeding aviary. Clinical signs in affected birds included weakness, posterior paresis, inability to fly, or acute death. Gross and microscopic lesions were not initially apparent in acutely affected deceased birds. Many birds had evidence of trauma, which is now hypothesized to have been related to the birds' weakness. Investigation into the cause(s) of morbidity and mortality were complicated by the opening of a new interactive enclosure. For this reason, environmental conditions and husbandry protocols were heavily scrutinized. Microscopic examination of dead budgies later in the course of the investigation revealed mineralization of soft tissues consistent with hypervitaminosis D. Pooled serum analysis of deceased birds identified elevated vitamin D3 levels. Vitamin D3 analysis was performed on the feed sticks offered by the public and the formulated maintenance diet fed to the flock. This analysis detected elevated levels of vitamin D3 that were 22.5-times the manufacturer's labeled content in the formulated diet. These findings contributed to a manufacturer recall of more than 100 formulated diets fed to a wide variety of domestic and captive wild animal species throughout the United States and internationally. This case report discusses the complexities of determining the etiology of a toxic event in a zoologic institution.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animal Husbandry; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Animals, Zoo; Bird Diseases; Cholecalciferol; Diet; Drug Overdose; Iowa; Melopsittacus

Topics: Cholecalciferol; Diagnosis, Differential; Drug Labeling; Drug Overdose; Humans; Infant; Male

Administration of intermittent high doses of vitamin D3 is increasingly used as a strategy for rapid normalization of low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) blood concentrations in patients with vitamin D deficiency. Here, we describe the pharmacokinetics of an accidental single oral overdose of 2,000,000 IU of vitamin D3 in two elderly nursing home patients and discuss safety issues.. Two patients, a Caucasian 90-year old man and a 95-year old woman, were monitored from 1 h up to 3 months after intake for clinical as well as biochemical signs of vitamin D intoxication. Blood vitamin D3 concentrations showed a prompt increase with the highest peak area already hours after the dose, followed by a rapid decrease to undetectable levels after day 14. Peak blood 25(OH)D3 concentrations were observed 8 days after intake (527 and 422 nmol/L, respectively (ref: 50-200 nmol/L)). Remarkably, plasma calcium levels increased only slightly up to 2.68 and 2.73 mmol/L, respectively (ref: 2.20-2.65 mmol/L) between 1 and 14 days after intake, whereas phosphate and creatinine levels remained within the reference range. No adverse clinical symptoms were noted.. A single massive oral dose of 2,000,000 IU of vitamin D3 does not cause clinically apparent toxicity requiring hospitalization, with only slightly elevated plasma calcium levels in the first 2 weeks. Toxicity in the long term cannot be excluded as annual doses of 500,000 IU of vitamin D3 for several years have shown an increase in the risk of fractures. This means that plasma calcium levels may not be a sensitive measure of vitamin D toxicity in the long term in the case of a single high overdose. To prevent a similar error in the future, the use of multiple-dose bottles need to be replaced by smaller single-unit dose formulations.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cholecalciferol; Drug Overdose; Female; Humans; Male; Netherlands; Nursing Homes

Topics: Cholecalciferol; Drug Overdose; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Ireland; Medication Errors

Holstein suckling calves on a farm manifested severe emaciation, generalized alopecia, dome-like cranial deformation, and high mortality (Case 1). Metaphyseal growth plates of the femur were achondroplastic; segmented, partially resorped, and replaced with immature bony trabeculae containing degenerated chondrocytes. The skull was thin and partially replaced with connective tissue. Diffuse and severe fatty degeneration was observed in the hepatic stellate (Ito') cells. After 6 mo, surviving calves manifested unthrifty with short and irregular hindquarters (Case 2). The metaphyseal growth plates were poorly formed, irregular, partially disappeared centrally, and often sealed with thin bony trabeculae. The cartilage matrix was not homogeneous but was finely fibrous, and chondrocytes were flat and degenerated. The bone lesion was diagnosed as chondrodysplasia due to premature physeal closure. These calves had been administered excessive amounts of vitamins A, D3 and E, and blood chemistry of acute case showed hypervitaminosis A and E. Case I demonstrated acute disease, while Case 2 demonstrated chronic sequelae. Hypervitaminosis A was the suspected cause.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Cholecalciferol; Drug Overdose; Emaciation; Femur; Growth Disorders; Growth Plate; Skull; Vitamin A; Vitamin E

Metabolic acidoses are diseases causing many diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Compensated metabolic acidosis can be unrecognised for a long time. This refers especially to isolated renal tubular acidosis (RTA). Unrecognised RTA causes calcium and phosphorus balance disturbances with clinical signs of improper bone mineralization. It happens that some patients with mentioned problems are "treated" as rachitic and take high doses of vitamin D. As a result, serum calcium and phosphates as well as urine calcium increase, without the satisfied influence on bone mineralization. We present a case of a 3.5 months old baby, who was "treated" as ricket in vitamin D deficiency. This baby was "cured" with high doses of cholecalciferol (0.0875 mg/24h for 2 weeks, then 0.175 mg/24h for 3 weeks) because of craniotabes. This treatment was carried on without any metabolic tests and caused the following disturbances: 25(OH)D serum level - 102.7 ng/ml (normal 11-54), 1,25(OH)2D serum level - 39.5 pg/ml (normal 15-70), calcaemia 2.7-2.85 mmol/l, phosphataemia 2.1 mmol/l. In this time the considerable hipercalciuria (second morning urine sample Ca/cr ratio 2.06 mmol/mmol) occurred. The other laboratory test showed as follows: serum albumins 4.5 g/dl, alkaline phosphatase 188 U/l, acid phosphatase 10.7 U l, Cl- 114.9 mmol/l, Na 146 mmol/l, K 4.8 mmol/l, HCO3a 16.6-20.1 mmol/l and pCO2 3.63-3.85 kPa, serum anion gap 11 mEq/l; pH of morning urine 6.5-7. These results suggested the presence of distal RTA aside from symptoms of vitamin D overdosage. The high serum levels of calcium and phosphates, craniotabes, rather low serum alkaline phosphatase activity and presence of metabolic acidosis the symptoms after the normalisation of calcium and phosphorus balance suggested that the distal RTA had been prior to calcium disturbances.

Topics: Acidosis, Renal Tubular; Cholecalciferol; Drug Overdose; Humans; Infant; Male; Medical Errors; Rickets; Risk Factors

The paper investigated the changes of rabbit's tooth and jaw tissues by vitamin-D poisoning experiment. The results showed the dentin, periodontium, jaw bone and long bone of rabbit were all changed. X-ray showed subperiosteum absorbation and periosteum reaction. The mineral content of the rabbit's epiphysis and long bone diaphysis in experiment group were lower than that of control group. The histopathological findings were irregular hyperplasia of dentin, arrange disturbance of periodontal fibers, absorbation of the alveolar bone and mal-ossification of long bones. The above changes were more significant during 30-45 days of rabbit poisoning, after 60 days of poisoning the above signs were gradually released.

Topics: Animals; Bone and Bones; Bone Density; Bone Development; Cholecalciferol; Dentin; Drug Overdose; Jaw; Periodontium; Poisoning; Rabbits; Radiography