Hypocalcemic tetany, growth failure, primary amenorrhea and iron deficiency in an adolescent girl

Abstract EN

A1 5-year-old pale and wasted prepubertal Yemeni girl presented with carpo-pedal spasms of the limbs and drowsiness after severe bilateral thigh pain and weak¬ness for a few days.

She denied any trauma or taking medications but complained of recurrent abdominal pains and distension with occasional diarrhea.

Her height = 119 cm and weight = 19.5 kg, BMI = 13.7.

Her quadriceps were contracted bilaterally and there was exquisite pain on palpation of both thighs.

Deep- tendon reflexes were brisk all over and Chvostek sign was positive.

Abdomen appeared distended with no organomegaly.

Tests showed hypocalcemia, hypophos¬phatemia, hypomagnesemia, high PTH and low vitamin D 25-hydroxy level, hypoalbuminemia, low B12 and low RBC folate, normal ESR with normal renal and hepatic functions.

Tissue transglutaminase antibody was posi¬tive but stools negative for fat.

Upper gut endoscopy revealed total villus atrophy.

Bone age was nine years with osteomalacia.

She was diagnosed with celiac disease plus multivitamin deficiency and was treated with vitamin D3 (600, 000 U)IM, calcium carbonate, B12 100 meg IM, multivitamins, and Fe-sulfate.

She was put on a gluten-free diet with increased calcium intake.

Two months later, her weight had increased by 5 kg, height by 4 cm and her appetite improved mark¬edly with disappearance of all abdominal symptoms and cramps.

Adolescents with delayed puberty and short stature must be screened for celiac disease.