Hypervitaminosis A in a Patient With Alopecia Receiving Renal Dialysis

A patient undergoing long-term renal dialysis experienced increasing hair loss and was found to have a serum vitamin A level of 140 micrograms/dL, significantly higher than the normal range of 20 to 80 micrograms/dL. Despite only consuming vitamin A through conventional multivitamins for about three years, the patient exhibited signs of hypervitaminosis A. This condition was attributed to chronic renal disease, which can lead to a relative excess of vitamin A, further exacerbated by the inability of dialysis to effectively remove vitamin A. The study discussed the implications of administering low-dose vitamin A supplements in patients with renal disease, considering the altered vitamin A metabolism in such conditions.