title: Vitamin D concentrations and disease activity in Moroccan children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In addition to its important metabolic activities, vitamin D also contributes to the regulation of the immune system. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between hypovitaminosis D and disease activity in Moroccan children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, forty children with JIA were included, all having been diagnosed according to the classification criteria of International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR). The children underwent anthropometric assessment and clinical evaluation. Disease activity was measured using the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) for polyarticular and oligoarticular JIA and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) for enthesitis-related arthritis. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin [25(OH)D] D2 and D3 were measured using radioimmunoassay (RIA). Hypovitaminosis D was defined as serum 25(OH)D <30 ng/ml.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of participants was 11 years ± 4.23. Hypovitaminosis D was observed in 75% of patients. In univariate analyses, 25(OH)D levels were negatively associated with DAS28 for polyarticular and oligoarticular JIA. No significant relationship was found between 25(OH)D levels and BASDAI for juvenile spondylarthropathy. In multivariate linear regression analysis, no association persisted between 25(OH)D levels and DAS28.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggested that serum levels of vitamin D were low in Moroccan children with JIA disease. Future studies with a larger population are needed to confirm our results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, El Ayachi Hospital, University Hospital of Rabat-Salé, 11000 Salé, Morocco. drbouaddilham@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Ilham
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bouaddi
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rostom
authors.forename: Dalal
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: El Badri
authors.forename: Asmae
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassani
authors.forename: Bouchra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chkirate
authors.forename: Redoine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abouqal
authors.forename: Bouchra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amine
authors.forename: Najia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hajjaj-Hassouni
mesh_terms: D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000886:Anthropometry; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D010710:Phosphates; D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002112:Calcifediol; D002118:Calcium