Study on clinical and biochemical indices in rickets

ABSTRACT

The study included 60 cases of vitamin deficiency rickets in El-Menia University Hospital. Their ages ranged from 5 to 40 months. 20 healthy children of matchable age and sex consisted the controls. All cases and controls were investigated for serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase. Metaphyseal enlargement at the wrists was the most frequent rachitic sign followed by Marfan sign and rachitic rosary. 90% of the rachitic cases presented with advanced degree of the disease. Growth retardation [length for age] was detected in 81.7% of the cases, hypocalcemia was detected in 93.3% of the studied cases. Patients with advanced rickets had a significantly higher calcium and a significantly lower serum phosphorus than patients with early rickets. Serum alkaline phosphatase was significantly decreased due to the association of PEM and chest infection. Carpopedal spasm was detected only in 10% of the rachitic cases who had a significantly lower serum calcium than the rest of cases