Vitamin D deficiency rickets at birth in Kuwait.

In the present study vitamin D deficiency rickets has been diagnosed within 24 hrs. of birth. Seventy five full term, otherwise healthy newborns, weighing more than 2.5 kg were born with rachitic rosary. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D was lower than normal in 56 newborns and 15 mothers. Alkaline phosphatase was higher than normal in 26 and radiological changes suggestive of rickets were seen in the wrist X ray of only 14 newborns. Hyperphosphataemia was present in all the newborns. 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D was markedly increased in six out of ten newborns.