Description

A 42-year-old man presented with lower limb bowing since childhood along with low backache and proximal muscle weakness for 8 years. He had strong family history of similar complaints in his elder brother, younger sister and daughter. Examination revealed loss of teeth and genu varum. Investigations showed corrected serum calcium of 8.9 mg/dL, phosphate 1.5 mg/dL, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) 47 pg /mL and 25 (OH) vitamin D 32.7 ng/mL. He had phosphaturia with TmP/GFR (ratio of renal tubular maximum reabsorption of phosphate to the glomerular filtration rate) of 0.4 mmol/L (range 0.89–1.34 mmol/L). His serum FGF-23 fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) was 89 RU/ml (range 0–150 RU/ml). Workup of the affected family members also revealed hypophosphatemia with phosphaturia. Radiograph showed calcification of sacrospinous ligaments, tensor fascia latae (figure 1) and right biceps brachii tendon (figure 2) suggestive of enthesopathy. In addition, there was bowing, ‘beaking’ and lateral cortical fractures of both femur (figure 1). In view of hypophosphatemia, phosphaturia, strong family history and radiological evidence of enthesopathy, he was diagnosed as X-linked dominant hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH). He was commenced on oral phosphate and calcitriol supplementation with marked improvement in symptoms.

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Figure 1

Anteroposterior radiograph of pelvis showing calcifications of sacrospinous ligaments (marked in black arrows), tensor fascia latae (marked in red arrows) along with bowing, ‘beaking’ and lateral cortical fractures of both femur (marked in blue arrows).

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Figure 2

Lateral radiograph of right elbow showing calcification of the right biceps brachii tendon (marked in black arrow).

Enthesopathy refers to involvement of the entheses in any pathological process. XLH is one of the well-recognised causes of enthesopathy. With an incidence of 1:20 000 live births, XLH is the most common cause of heritable rickets. Patients with XLH usually complain of bone pain, proximal myopathy and bony deformities, consistent with rickets/osteomalacia. Serum FGF-23 levels are usually elevated, however, may be inappropriately normal for the degree of hypophosphatemia, as was in our patient. Treatment consists of phosphate and calcitriol supplementation. Bone pains and proximal muscle weakness improve significantly; however, longitudinal growth in children remains unsatisfactory1. Enthesopathy in XLH develops late in the course of the disease and is probably a result of increased FGF-23 activity in the presence of excess periarticular chondroitin sulfate2. Conventional treatment does not affect enthesopathy3.