title: Effect of vitamin D deficiency and replacement on endothelial functions in Behçet's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endothelial dysfunction is previously demonstrated in Behçet's disease (BD) and vitamin D is implicated to affect endothelial functions. We aimed to evaluate the status of serum 25(OH)Vit D3 levels and its association with disease activity, endothelial function and carotis intima media thickness (CIMT) in patients with BD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six BD (F/M: 22/14, mean age: 39.6 years) patients and 51 healthy controls (F/M: 28/23, mean age: 34.5 years) were studied. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n=33) patients (F/M: 26/7, mean age: 50.82 years) were also enrolled, as a disease control group. Endothelial function was evaluated by brachial artery flow mediated dilatation (FMD) and CIMT with B-Mode ultrasound. The vitamin D-deficient BD patients received 1000 IU Vitamin D3 daily for 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Less than 50 nmol/L levels of 25(OH) Vit D3 were present in 61.1% (n=22) of BD and 35.3% (n=18) of HC (serum 25(OH)Vit D3 levels: BD: 44.5 (9-112) vs HC: 56 (14-125) nmol/lt, p=0.01). CIMT and FMD were also significantly different between BD and HC [0.56 (0.35-9.26) vs. 0.39 (0-0.52) and 5.20 (0.56-30.58) vs. 9.04 (-6.9-34.17), p=0.001 and p=0.02, respectively]. However, no correlation was observed between 25(OH)VitD3 levels and CIMT or FMD (r=0.6, p=0.7 and r=0.03, p=0.8, respectively) at baseline. CIMT measurements improved after replacement therapy (0.56 vs. 0.49, p=0.02), FMD measurements also improved, but not reaching statistical significance (5.2 vs. 8.28, p=0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high presence of vitamin D deficiency was observed in BD patients from Turkey and replacement of vitamin D had favourable effects on endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Marmara University, Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. meryemkrk@gmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Can
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gunes
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Haliloglu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haklar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inanç
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Yavuz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Direskeneli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014664:Vasodilation; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014815:Vitamins; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D002112:Calcifediol