Pleural effusion and ascites: unusual presenting features in a pediatric patient with vitamin A intoxication.
Publication/Presentation Date
7-1-1982
Abstract
The usual presenting features of vitamin A intoxication are pseuotumor cerebri, skeletal pain, desquamative dermatitis, and hepatic inflammation. Our patient was a nine-year-old female who had increasing cough, dyspnea, and abdominal distention for a short time prior to admission. She was said to have been treated with 10,000 units of vitamin A per day for skin rashes. Radiographic studies revealed a very large right sided pleural effusion, ascites, demineralized bones, and retarded skeletal maturation. The diagnosis of hypervitaminosis A was made. More detailed medical history confirmed that the child had, in actuality, received up to 300,000 units/day of vitamin A plus desiccated liver pills and carrot juice for the previous year. Clinical symptoms completely abated following acute medical treatment for ascites and cessation of vitamin A intake. Several months later, a sample of liver, obtained and preserved at the time of exploratory laparotomy, was homogenized and extracted with ethanol/hexane. The retinyl palmitate level was significantly elevated and consistent with vitamin A poisoning.
Volume
21
Issue
7
First Page
435
Last Page
440
ISSN
0009-9228
Published In/Presented At
Rosenberg, H. K., Berezin, S., Heyman, S., Witzleben, C., & Watkins, J. B. (1982). Pleural effusion and ascites: unusual presenting features in a pediatric patient with vitamin A intoxication. Clinical pediatrics, 21(7), 435–440. https://doi.org/10.1177/000992288202100710
Disciplines
Diagnosis | Medicine and Health Sciences | Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment | Radiology
PubMedID
7083715
Department(s)
Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Medical Imaging
Document Type
Article