Reduced vitamin A tolerance in a hyperlipidaemia patient with rapid destructive and hyperostotic osteoarthritis of the hip.

A 59-year-old patient suffering from hyperlipidaemia developed a chronic vitamin A intoxication syndrome after ingestion of 30000 IE retinol/daily over a period of six years. Functional disability of the right hip was caused by radiologically documented hyperostosis of the acetabular circumference. Finally, a prosthesis had to be implanted because of rapid destructive osteoarthritis of the right hip. Implications of vitamin A for rheumatological management are discussed.