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Proximal myopathy in lacto-vegetarian Asian patients responding to Vitamin D and calcium supplement therapy - two case reports and review of the literature

Authors :
Sreenan Seamus
Barry Maurice
Thabit Hood
Smith Diarmuid
Source :
Journal of Medical Case Reports, Vol 5, Iss 1, p 178 (2011)
Publication Year :
2011
Publisher :
BMC, 2011.

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Severe proximal myopathy can occasionally be the first presenting complaint of patients with osteomalacia. This may lead to investigations and misdiagnosis of a neuromuscular disease, rather than a metabolic bone disease. Case presentations We present here two cases of severe proximal myopathy in patients who were both of South Asian origin and lacto-vegetarians: a 31-year-old Indian man and a 34-year-old Indian woman. In both cases, their clinical symptoms fully resolved following vitamin D and calcium replacement therapy. These patients were at risk of osteomalacia due to their dietary intake and ethnicity. The role of dietary intake and sunlight exposure in the development of osteomalacia in certain ethnic groups living in Western Europe is reviewed here. Conclusion These two cases emphasize the importance of recognizing osteomalacia in at-risk individuals, as the condition is reversible and easily treated with vitamin D and calcium supplementation. It may also help avoid prolonged and unnecessary investigations of these patients.

Subjects

Subjects :
Medicine

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
17521947
Volume :
5
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Journal of Medical Case Reports
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.76bdd38ef79e44b590eb41b1ac98388f
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-5-178