[Disorders of vitamin D metabolism in clinical practice].

Results of recent studies give evidence of a pandemic of vitamin D deficiency due largely to insufficient exposure to sunlight. Epidemiological surveys demonstrated that vitamin B deficiency corresponding to blood calcidiol levels below 75 nmol/l or 30 ng/ml has negative effect on human health, increases the risk of cardiovascular disorders, malignant neoplasm, autoimmune and infectious diseases in proportion to the severity of deficit. Patients with extreme deficiency (calcidiol levels below 25 nmol/l or 10 ng/ ml) suffer osteomalation/rickets, diffuse muscular pain, myodystrophy, and enhanced risk of osteoporosis.

[Clinical significance of disturbed calcium metabolism].

The authors present literature data on the role of Ca-P metabolism and its regulators in the development of bone and cardiovascular pathology, intrauterine development, organogenesis, cell growth and differentiation. A large number of agents are currently available to modify Ca-P metabolism. (calcium and vitamin Dpreparations, PTH, calcitonin, stimulators of Ca-sensitive receptors, calcitriol receptor ligands, etc.

[Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant-cell arteritis].

The subjects of the study were 112 patients with rheumatic polymyalgia (RPM) and giant-cell arteritis (GSA). The study shows that RPM and GSA are complicated by cerebral flow disturbances and myocardial infarction. Therapy with prednisolone and non-steroid antiinflammatory drugs reduces the risk of these complications and lethal outcome in patients with RPM and GSA.