title: Associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and disease activity, inflammatory cytokines and bone loss in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe the associations between serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and disease activity, inflammatory cytokines and bone loss/erosions in patients with RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 130 patients with RA and 80 healthy controls. Serum 25(OH)D, IL-17 and IL-23 levels were detected by ELISA. Radiographic bone erosion was assessed using the van der Heijde modified Sharp score and BMD was measured using DXA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in age, gender and BMI between the RA and control groups. Serum level of 25(OH)D was markedly lower in the RA group than in the control group [43.12 nmol/l (s.d. 15.59) vs 57.93 (15.95), P < 0.01]. In RA patients, 25(OH)D levels were significantly and negatively associated with clinical parameters of disease activity including swollen joint count, tender joint count, joint pain degree, morning stiffness time and HAQ score and laboratory measures including platelets and ESR after adjustment for gender, age and BMI. They were also negatively associated with serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23. While 25(OH)D levels were not associated with radiographic bone erosions of RA, they were significantly lower in those with osteopenia and osteoporosis than in those with normal BMD (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  25(OH)D levels were reduced in patients with RA and were negatively associated with disease activity, IL-17/IL-23 and bone loss in RA. These suggest that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the aetiology of RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Department of Endocrinology, 105 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Arthritis Research Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China and Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Department of Endocrinology, 105 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Arthritis Research Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China and Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Department of Endocrinology, 105 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Arthritis Research Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China and Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Department of Endocrinology, 105 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Arthritis Research Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China and Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. xujianhua86@yahoo.cn.
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Department of Endocrinology, 105 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Arthritis Research Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China and Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Shengqian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Department of Endocrinology, 105 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Arthritis Research Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China and Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Department of Endocrinology, 105 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Arthritis Research Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China and Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Department of Endocrinology, 105 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Arthritis Research Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China and Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Department of Endocrinology, 105 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Arthritis Research Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China and Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Department of Endocrinology, 105 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Arthritis Research Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China and Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Changhai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D015519:Bone Density; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: 25-hydroxyvitamin D; IL-17; IL-23; arthritis; disease activity; rheumatoid