Hypocalcaemic Seizures Secondary to Vitamin D Deficiency in Children

Lead investigator

Dr Emre Basatemur
NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow
General & Adolescent Paediatric Unit
UCL Institute of Child Health
30 Guilford Street
London
WC1N 1EH

Email: emre.basatemur@ucl.ac.uk

Overview

• Recent reports have suggested that Vitamin D Deficiency (VDD) is increasing in prevalence in children in the UK.
• There is extremely limited epidemiological data regarding the incidence of the various clinical manifestations of VDD (eg rickets, impaired growth, hypocalcaemic seizures and tetany, cardiomyopathy) in UK children. Hypocalcaemic seizures represent one of the most severe complications of VDD, and literature is lacking regarding their incidence and clinical outcomes.
• VDD is preventable by simple dietary supplementation.
• However, current UK guidance regarding supplementation for pregnant women and children is inconsistent , and it is thought that uptake of supplements in the population is low.
• Using the BPSU national surveillance system this study aims to investigate the incidence of hypocalcaemic seizures caused by Vitamin D Deficiency in children in the UK and Ireland, and describe the demographic characteristics of affected children.
• This study will also investigate morbidity and mortality in affected children with follow-up questionnaires at one year.
• The study will contribute to our understanding of the epidemiology of profound vitamin D deficiency in children in the UK and Ireland, and help us to evaluate the effectiveness of current public health measures. 

Duration: September 2011 - September 2012 (13 months)

Funding: Sir Peter Tizard Bursary 

Ethical approval: This study has been approved by the London Central Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 11/LO/0838) and by the National Information Governance Board (ECC/BPSU 6-02(FT7)/2011).

Further Information

• Study Protocol (PDF, 569KB, 2 pages)
• Study Flyer (PDF, 17KB, 1 page)
• Questionnaire (PDF, 440KB, 6 pages)
• Questionnaire - Ireland (PDF, 439KB, 6 pages)
• Public Information Leaflet (PDF, 59KB, 3 pages)