Prevalence of vitamin d deficiency and rickets in children with cholestasis in Iran

This study was aimed to determine prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency and rickets in children with cholestatic liver diseases. Forty eight children with established cholestatic liver disease who referred to gastrointestinal clinic of Children Medical Center [Tehran, Iran] between April 2010 and March 2011 were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Laboratory analysis including calcium, phosphate, albumin, total and direct bilirubin, aminotransferases, alkalinephosphatase [ALP], prothrombin time [PT], parathyroid hormone [PTH], total protein determined by routine laboratory techniques. Mean age of participants was 299.1 +/- 676.8 days [range 2-3600 days] whereas twenty one were female [43.8%] and 27 [56.3%] were male. Twenty two [45.8%] had evidences of rickets in X-ray evaluation. Three children with rickets and two with normal X-ray had Vitamin D deficiency while ten in rickets group and 16 in normal group had Vitamin D insufficiency. The main underlying diseases were anatomical biliary atresia in cases with rickets and idiopathic in other group. Rickets and Vitamin D deficiency should be considered in chronic cholestatic children.