referral criteria from primary care - adult vitamin D deficiency
Last edited 01/2019
referral to a specialist if
- a patient with vitamin D deficiency if there is no obvious cause, or,
- if there is unexplained weight loss or anaemia or any other suggestion of coeliac disease or fat malabsorption, or,
- if medication (e.g. antiepileptic drugs, rifampicin) might be the cause, or,
- if the patient has hepatic or renal disease, or,
- if there is any illness associated with undue sensitivity to vitamin D and so an increased risk of toxicity with treatment (e.g. sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, lymphoma, primary hyperparathyroidism, pregnancy)
- also, symptomatic patients who have taken supplements as directed for about 2 months with no improvement clinically or in vitamin D status should be referred to a specialist
Reference:
- Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2006; 44(4):26-9.