title: Rickets: Part I.
abstract: Rickets is characterized by impaired mineralization and ossification of the growth plates of growing children caused by a variety of disorders, the most frequent of which is nutritional deficiency of vitamin D. Despite ample knowledge of its etiology and the availability of cost-effective methods of preventing it, vitamin D deficiency rickets remains a significant problem in developing and developed countries. This two-part review covers the history, etiology, pathophysiology and clinical and radiographical findings of vitamin D deficiency rickets. Other less frequent causes of rickets and some of the disorders entering into the differential diagnoses of rickets are also considered. Controversial issues surrounding vitamin D deficiency include determination of what constitutes vitamin D sufficiency and the potential relationship between low levels of vitamin D metabolites in many individuals and unexplained fractures in infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Box 9, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, USA. rshore@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Shore
authors.forename: Russell W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Chesney
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012279:Rickets / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D