[Hypercalcemia revealing iatrogenic hypervitaminosis A in a child with autistic troubles].

UNLABELLED: Hypervitaminosis A is an unusual cause of infant hypercalcemia. The way it occurs can be very surprising, as one can notice from the following case report.

CASE REPORTS: A three-year-old boy, presenting important behavioral disorders, was hospitalized because of a deterioration of his general state of health associated with vomiting, cephalgias, fever and cutaneous abnormalities. A 168 mg/L hypercalcemia was found. The only etiology is a deviant consumption of vitamin A within the framework of an "autistic diet": 100000 UI/d during three months, and then 150000 UI/d the three following months. Intoxication was confirmed by the increased vitamin A plasmatic level, and vitamin A/RBP molar ratio and by the presence of plasmatic retinyl palmitate. An emergency treatment by rehydration, biphosphonates and furosemide led to effective calcemia normalization.

CONCLUSION

In the case of nonobvious causes of hypercalcemia, a thorough cross-examination must look for vitamin A intoxication. Our observation illustrates the danger of certain diets suggested for autistic children.