title: Vitamin B deficiencies in a critically ill autistic child with a restricted diet.
abstract: An 11-year-old male with autism became less responsive and was hospitalized with hepatomegaly and liver dysfunction, as well as severe lactic acidosis. His diet for several years was self-limited exclusively to a single "fast food"-a particular type of fried chicken-and was deficient in multiple micronutrients, including the B vitamins thiamine and pyridoxine. Lactic acidosis improved rapidly with thiamine; 2 weeks later, status epilepticus-with low serum pyridoxine-resolved rapidly with pyridoxine. Dietary B vitamin deficiencies complicated the care of this critically ill autistic child and should be considered in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York jsb106@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: J Scott
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Thyyar M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Ravindranath
mesh_terms: D000140:Acidosis, Lactic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000009:adverse effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013831:Thiamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000628:therapy; D014804:Vitamin B Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D011736:Pyridoxine; D013831:Thiamine
keywords: autistic disorder; avitaminosis; feeding and eating disorders of childhood; lactic acidosis; thiamine deficiency; vitamin B deficiency; vitamin B6 deficiency