Vitamin A toxicity and hypercalcemia
Ragavan, V.V.; Smith, J.E.; Bilezikian, J.P.
American Journal of the Medical Sciences 283(3): 161-164
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9629 PMID: 6211095 Document Number: 186246
A patient admitted to hospital with hypercalcaemia and a history of chronic vitamin A ingestion had severe weight loss, a psychiatric disturbance, total body alopecia, erosive dermatitis and liver disease, symptoms compatible with vitamin A excess. The diagnosis of vitamin A toxicity was established by high total vitamin A values and the component due to retinyl esters. Other aetiologies for hypercalcaemia were excluded. From those results and the well-known effects of vitamin A on bone metabolism, it was concluded that the most likely aetiology of the hypercalcaemia in the patient was vitamin A toxicity.