Osteomalacia Induced by Laxative (Phenolphthalein) Ingestion
- 1 November 1971
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in Archives of internal medicine (1960)
- Vol. 128 (5) , 794-796
- https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1971.00310230124014
Abstract
A 51-year-old woman developed skeletal symptoms due to histologically proved osteomalacia. The etiology could not be determined until a history of factitial diarrhea due to long-term phenolphthalein (Ex-Lax) ingestion was finally elicited. Normal bowel habits returned after the use of phenolphthalein was discontinued and the osteomalacia showed signs of healing. Surreptitious ingestion of cathartics should be considered as a causal factor in patients with unexplained osteomalacia.Keywords
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