Renal tubular acidosis type II associated with vitamin D deficiency presenting as chronic weakness

Abstract

Chronic vitamin D deficiency, though common in the elderly, is often under diagnosed and when progressing to renal tubular acidosis type II (RTA 2) can cause several simultaneous electrolyte imbalances that may present with weakness and pain as chief symptoms. We present such a case that after months of evaluation and symptomatic treatment did not lead to an effective establishment of the etiology causing chronic weakness and body pain in an elderly female patient. Eventually, after a careful review of the patient's history, repeat physical examinations, laboratory data evaluation, and diagnostic testing led to the establishment of the diagnosis of proximal RTA 2 associated with vitamin D deficiency, which caused the patient to develop several remarkable secondary electrolyte imbalances such as hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, acidemia, hyperparathyroidism, with weakness and body pain. © 2014, The Author(s),. All rights reserved.