hypervitaminosis A

Introduction

Excessive ingestion of vitamin A

Etiology

• excessive vitamin A supplementation
• usual dietary practices, i.e. diet largely of polar bear liver

Clinical manifestations

• abnormal softening of the skull (infants & children)
• blurred vision
• bone pain
• migratory arthritis
• bulging fontanelle (infants)
• decreased consciousness
• decreased appetite
• dizziness
• blurred vision, diplopia (young children)
• drowsiness
• fatigue
• headache
• impotence
• increased intracranial pressure
• irritability
• seizures
• nausea, vomiting
• osteoporosis
• growth retardation (infants & children)
• skin peeling, pruritus
• yellow discoloration of the skin
• angular cheilitis
• alopecia
• photosensitivity
• seborrhea
• gynecomastia

Laboratory

• serum vitamin A is high
• serum calcium may show hypercalcemia
• serum creatinine may be elevated with renal disease
• serum cholesterol may be elevated

Management

• elimination of the source of excess vitamin A
• most patients fully recover

More general terms

• hypervitaminosis
• toxicity; poisoning; overdose

Additional terms

• vitamin A