Vitamin D Deficiency and Sickle Bone Disease: A Case Report

A generalised form of bone involvement, both acute and chronic, termed as Sickle bone disease (SBD), is not well studied, especially in relation to the mechanism. Although painful crises due to vascular involvement of bone and joint are frequently reported finding in sickle cell disease, pathogenesis of bone disease involving low bone mineral density, osteopenia, osteoporosis is not completely understood. Vitamin D deficiency has been thought to contribute to Sickle bone disease (SBD). Here is a case report of a patient who had Vitamin D deficiency as a contributing cause to sickle bone disease.

A young female with Sickle cell disease (SCD) presented with joint as well as bone pains, proximal muscle weakness and antalgic gait. Investigations were suggestive of severe vitamin D deficiency, hypophosphatemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism. She had clinical, biochemical and radiological features of osteomalacia and evidence of pathological bone fractures. Patient’s response to vitamin D and calcium supplementation was observed.