title: Vitamin D in primary biliary cirrhosis, a plausible marker of advanced disease.
abstract: Vitamin D immune-modulating effects were extensively studied, and low levels have been linked with autoimmune diseases. The associations of vitamin D with autoimmune diseases of the liver, and particularly primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), are yet to be defined. Hence, in this study, serum levels of vitamin D were determined in 79 patients with PBC and 70 age- and sex-matched controls by the LIAISON chemiluminescent immunoassays (DiaSorin-Italy). Clinical and serological parameters of patients were analyzed with respect to vitamin D status. Mean levels of vitamin D were significantly lower among patients with PBC compared with controls (16.8 ± 9 vs. 22.1 ± 9 ng/ml; p = 0.029), and vitamin D deficiency (≤10 ng/ml) was documented in 33% of patients with PBC versus 7% of controls (p < 0.0001). Vitamin D levels inversely correlated with advanced liver damage and the presence of concomitant autoimmune diseases. In contrast, higher levels of vitamin D were observed among patients with PBC treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). In conclusion, low vitamin D levels are common among patients with PBC and correlate with advanced disease, lack of UDCA therapy and autoimmune comorbidity. This alludes to the plausible roles of vitamin D as a prognostic marker of PBC severity, and as a potential player in this disease pathogenesis. While further studies are awaited, monitoring vitamin D in patients with PBC and use of supplements may be advisable.
authors.affiliation: The Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, 52621, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agmon-Levin
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kopilov
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Selmi
authors.forename: Udi
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nussinovitch
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Castañón
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Hoyos
authors.forename: Howie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amital
authors.forename: Shaye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kivity
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gershwin
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoenfeld
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D