title: Delayed hypersensitivity response and vitamin D deficiency.
abstract: The relationship between delayed hypersensitivity and serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were examined in sixty-three elderly people. After intracutaneous injection of five recall antigens (Candida, mumps, PPD, tricophyton and varidase) nineteen subjects showed no response (anergy), seven showed only a weak reaction (relative anergy), and thirty-seven a normal reaction. In the anergic group mean serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was significantly lower than in the group with normal immunoreactivity. Five subjects with anergy and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D below 20 nmol/l were treated with oral vitamin D or UV irradiation for two to three months, after which both the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the delayed hypersensitivity were normalized. In a non-treated group anergy persisted in seven out of nine patients in a second skin test. We conclude that anergy in the delayed hypersensitivity skin test in humans may in some cases be due to vitamin D deficiency.
mesh_terms: D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; D000368:Aged; D004872:Ergocalciferols / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000209:etiology; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D004872:Ergocalciferols; D014807:Vitamin D; D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2