The Healing of Late Rickets Coincident with Low Serum Phosphate.

Abstract

The calcium and phosphorus metabolism of two white girls, 12 and 13 years old, with clinical, roentgenological and chemical evidence of rickets was studied over a period of several months. During this time there was definite roentgenological evidence of healing of the ricketic lesions; the amounts of calcium and phosphorus retained by each child were ample for bone formation; yet the serum inorganic phosphorus of each child remained consistently low, ranging from 2 to 3.2 mg. %. The healing was not due to seasonal influence for it occurred during the late winter months.