Juvenile lupus and serum vitamin D levels: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) is usually associated with vitamin D deficiency and low bone mineral density.

Objectives: To evaluate serum levels of 25-OH vitamin D in JSLE patients and to correlate these findings with disease activity and bone density.

Methods: This study was conducted on 100 patients with JSLE and 100 healthy children as controls. Disease duration and SLEDAI for disease activity were evaluated. CBC, anti-dsDNA, C3,C4,24hr urinary proteins, creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate(e-GFR),Ca,P,PTH, 25 (OH) D levels, and bone mineral density(BMD)Z score were measured.

Results: There were significant differences in mean 25(OH)D concentration between patients group (19.37 ± 9.72 ng/ml) and controls 35.90 ± 9.66 ng/ml(p < 0.05), with significant difference between active and inactive patients (p < 0.05).There were significant negative correlations between serum 25(OH)D and SLEDAI (r-0.545, p 0.001), steroid dose (r-0.561, p 0.001), anti-dsDNA (r-0.685, p 0.006), 24 hr-proteinuria (r-0.738, p 0.001) and PTH (r-0.335, p 0.001), significant positive correlations between 25(OH)D and C3 (r0.617, p 0.001),C4 (r0.544, p 0.001) serum Ca (r0.424, p 0.001) and Z score (r0.561, p 0.001),with non-significant correlations between 25(OH)D and serum P and both disease & steroid duration, (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is common in JSLE, it's correlated significantly with disease activity and bone mineral density.

Keywords: Bone mineral density; disease activity; juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus; vitamin D.