title: Impact of vitamin D deficiency upon clinical presentation in nasal polyposis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this work was to determine if specific chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) populations are at risk for vitamin D3 (VD3 ) deficiency and if VD3 levels correlate with radiographic measures of disease severity or eosinophilia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a retrospective review of an academic rhinology practice. CRSwNP patients who had VD3 levels and CT scan within 6 months of each other were included. CT scans were graded using Lund-Mackay scoring (LMS) and peripheral eosinophil counts were measured. Demographic data including race, gender, age, body mass index, atopic status, and presence of asthma were collected. CRSwNP was subdivided into allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS), aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), and other CRSwNP. Multivariate analysis was performed to examine correlations and control for confounding factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Insufficient VD3 levels were found in 55% of all CRSwNP patients. VD3 correlated with African American race because nearly 80% of all African Americans had insufficient VD3 levels. Lower VD3 levels also correlated with more severe mucosal disease on CT scans as measured by LMS. There was no correlation between VD3 levels and age, gender, body mass index, atopy, asthma, or CRSwNP subtype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VD3 insufficiency/deficiency is common in CRSwNP patients, especially those of African American race. Lower levels of VD3 are associated with worse LMS on CT. The role of VD3 in CRSwNP warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC; Division of Rhinology & Sinus Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Rodney J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schlosser
authors.forename: Zachary M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: Gregg W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Schmedes
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Storck
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Mulligan
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D001241:Aspirin / Q000276:immunology; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000097:blood*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012306:Risk; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D001241:Aspirin
keywords: cholecalciferol; chronic rhinosinusitis; nasal polyposis; polyps; sinusitis; vitamin D; vitamin D deficiency