Osteomalacia should be sought and treated before withdrawal of anticonvulsant therapy in UK Asians. Issue 796 (February 1992)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Macallan, D. C.; Maxwell, J. D.; Eastwood, J. B.
• Is Part Of: Postgraduate medical journal. Volume 68:Issue 796(1992)
• Page Start: 134
• Page End: 136
• Publication Date: 1992-02
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.68.796.134
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-5473

Abstract

Abstract : Individuals from the Asian sub-continent in the United Kingdom are at particular risk of developing osteomalacia. We report a Gujarati woman who developed osteomalacia whilst taking anticonvulsant drugs; withdrawal of anticonvulsant therapy was followed by a seizure complicated by femoral neck fracture. In patients with other risk factors for osteomalacia, as is the case for Asians living in Britain, anticonvulsant drugs should not be reduced or withdrawn until osteomalacia, which puts the skeleton at increased risk of fracture, and its associated hypocalcaemia, which reduces seizure threshold, have been sought and adequately treated.