Malignant osteopetrosis treated with high doses of 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 and interferon gamma

A male infant with malignant osteopetrosis was treated with high doses of 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 and interferon gamma. Therapy with 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 increased the serum calcium level despite the markedly elevated serum level of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D before treatment. Recombinant human interferon gamma increased neither the bone mineral nor matrix turnover, and was not tolerated because of bone marrow suppression.