title: Hypovitaminosis D and its relation to demographic and laboratory data among hepatitis C patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] serum levels and response to antiviral therapy and laboratory data in HCV infection remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine pre-treatment 25(OH)D serum level among HCV infected individuals and to evaluate the association between vitamin D status, virological response, and laboratory data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline serum 25(OH)D levels were measured in 237 chronic HCV infected patients (139 female, age 53.7 ± 11.2 years) using chemiluminescence immunoassay. Correlations between serum 25(OH)D levels, virological and laboratory data regarding HCV infection as well as sustained virological response (SVR) to antiviral therapy were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean serum values of 25(OH)D was 26.2 ± 12 ng/mL and prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (< 30 ng/mL) was 66.2%. Advanced age (> 55 years), high mean values of LDL, total cholesterol, HDL and low mean values of alkaline phosphatase and hemoglobin were statistically associated to vitamin D deficiency. Antiviral treatment was underwent by 133 HCV patients and 44.3% of them achieved SVR. Most of individuals that presented SVR also presented 25(OH)D level higher than 30ng/mL (55.9%). SVR was associated to low mean values of LDL, total cholesterol and platelets; high mean values of ALT, AST and low fibrosis grade.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, low vitamin D levels were observed among HCV infected patients and was associated to laboratory findings, however baseline 25(OH)D level is not independently associated with SVR.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Melo-Villar
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lampe
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adilson J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de P Scalioni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lia L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lewis-Ximenez
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Miguel
authors.affiliation: Unit for the Clinical Management of Digestive Diseases and CIBERehd, Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Del Campo
authors.affiliation: Unit for the Clinical Management of Digestive Diseases and CIBERehd, Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Isidora
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ranchal
authors.affiliation: Hepatology Unit, Medical Clinic Department, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Villela-Nogueira
authors.affiliation: Unit for the Clinical Management of Digestive Diseases and CIBERehd, Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romero-Gomez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D