An Interesting Case of Osteomalacia Due to Antacid Use Associated With Stainable Bone Aluminum in a Patient With Normal Renal Function

Antacids containing aluminum and magnesium hydroxide are widely used nonprescription agents for treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. One of the side effects of these antacids is that they bind phosphate in the gut, resulting in its malabsorption. Short-term use, consistent with the directions on the manufacturer’s label, is safe and effective for most patients. Heavy chronic use, even when within label, can cause serious skeletal impairment. This report concerns the case of a 39-year-old pharmacist who self-medicated for peptic ulcer disease with high doses of a potent antacid containing aluminum and magnesium hydroxide. The patient consumed over 18 kg of elemental aluminum and 15 kg of elemental magnesium over 8 years of antacid use. This treatment resulted in the clinical syndrome of severe osteomalacia due to profound phosphate depletion. Bone biopsy revealed stainable aluminum deposits along 27.6% of the total bone surface, which is a unique observation in a patient with normal renal function. Treatment included withdrawing the antacid and supplementation with phosphate, calcium, and vitamin D. She experienced marked subjective and objective improvement with this regimen. This included a striking increase in her bone mineral density occurring over the 2-year follow-up period. This case documents that long-term antacid therapy, even when used by patients with normal renal function and within the manufacturer’s label recommendations, can lead to severe phosphate depletion, osteomalacia, and toxic accumulation of aluminum and magnesium. This clinical syndrome was readily treated by withdrawal of the antacid and with calcium and phosphate supplementation. Physicians recommending treatment with these compounds or learning of their patient’s self-medication with them should inform the patient of the potential serious side effects these agents can cause when used chronically at maximally recommended doses.