In vitamin D deficiency rickets, what is the expected PTH level?

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Multiple Choice

In vitamin D deficiency rickets, what is the expected PTH level?

Explanation:
Low vitamin D reduces intestinal calcium absorption, so serum calcium falls. The parathyroid glands respond to this hypocalcemia by secreting more PTH, a state referred to as secondary hyperparathyroidism. Elevated PTH tries to restore calcium by increasing bone resorption, enhancing renal calcium reabsorption, and boosting production of active vitamin D, but in vitamin D deficiency the available substrate limits full normalization. PTH also drives phosphate excretion, leading to low phosphate, which further impairs bone mineralization and contributes to rickets. So the expected PTH level is elevated.

Low vitamin D reduces intestinal calcium absorption, so serum calcium falls. The parathyroid glands respond to this hypocalcemia by secreting more PTH, a state referred to as secondary hyperparathyroidism. Elevated PTH tries to restore calcium by increasing bone resorption, enhancing renal calcium reabsorption, and boosting production of active vitamin D, but in vitamin D deficiency the available substrate limits full normalization. PTH also drives phosphate excretion, leading to low phosphate, which further impairs bone mineralization and contributes to rickets. So the expected PTH level is elevated.

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