Hypervitaminosis A causing benign intracranial hypertension. A case report

S Afr Med J. 1988 Dec 3;74(11):584-5.

Abstract

Hypervitaminosis A is a well-recognized clinical entity, but the toxic manifestations develop so insidiously and involve so many systems that diagnosis can easily be missed or delayed. A patient with juvenile chronic arthritis developed benign intracranial hypertension and other manifestations of excessive vitamin A intake and made a complete recovery after it was withdrawn. Vitamin A is a non-prescription drug and any history of its ingestion must be obtained during evaluation of papilloedema. A plea is made for the public to be repeatedly reminded that no proposed remedy is safe or effective until it is demonstrated to be so.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis, Juvenile / complications
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Hypervitaminosis A / complications*
  • Male
  • Orthomolecular Therapy / adverse effects*
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri / etiology*