title: 25-Hydroxyivitamin D3 levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and its association with clinical parameters and laboratory tests.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The immunoregulatory role of vitamin D has been the object of a growing number of studies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH) D] in patients with SLE, and to assess the association of 25(OH)D insufficiency/deficiency with clinical parameters and laboratory tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, prospective study performed at the SLE Clinic, Department of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco with convenience sampling, including 78 patients with SLE and 64 volunteers (comparison group), matched by gender and age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Insufficiency/deficiency of 25(OH)D was found in 45 (57.7%) patients with SLE and 25 (39%) individuals in the comparison group. The mean serum levels of 25(OH)D were 29.3 ng/mL (6.1-55.2 ng/mL) in patients with SLE and 33.12 ng/mL (15.9-63.8 ng/mL) in the comparison group, and this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.041). No statistically significant difference was observed between the mean ages of both groups. No statistically significant association was observed between 25(OH)D insufficiency/deficiency and the following: time to diagnosis; disease activity (SLEDAI > 6); fatigue; use of corticosteroids and antimalarials; and anti-DNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High prevalence of 25(OH)D insufficiency/deficiency was found in patients with SLE (57.7%), with statistically significant difference as compared with the comparison group. No association of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency was observed with the clinical variables and laboratory tests studied. The authors emphasize the importance of determining 25(OH)D serum levels in all patients with SLE, regardless of where they live and time to disease diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco – UFPE. thiagofragoso@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Thiago Sotero
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Fragoso
authors.forename: Andrea Tavares
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Dantas
authors.forename: Claudia Diniz Lopes
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Laurindo Ferreira da
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Rocha Junior
authors.forename: José Humberto de Lima
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Aline Jurema Gesteira
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Angela Luzia Branco Pinto
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Duarte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D002112:Calcifediol