title: Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level in patients with pemphigus and its association with disease severity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a growing number of studies suggesting a key role for vitamin D in the pathogenesis and progression of autoimmune disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] in patients with pemphigus and association of 25(OH)D with clinical features.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 52 patients with pemphigus and 56 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). Only patients newly diagnosed with pemphigus or patients who had relapsed after discontinuing their treatment for > 6 months were included. Serum 25(OH)D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were measured. Data on demographics, body mass index (BMI), disease severity (based on Pemphigus Area and Activity Score; PAAS) and involved surface body area (BSA) were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suboptimal levels of vitamin D (< 30 ng/mL) were observed in 78.8% and 91.0% of patients and HCs, respectively (P = 0.13). Univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression models showed that low vitamin D status was more likely to occur in patients with higher BSA (OR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.13) and those with higher cutaneous (OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.11-1.66) and total (OR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.08-1.41) PAAS. However, there was no significant association between vitamin D levels and presence of pemphigus, season of sampling, age, BMI or smoking habit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D deficiency is common both in patients with pemphigus and in HCs. Patients with more severe disease (higher PAAS) are likely to have lower vitamin D levels.
authors.affiliation: Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moravvej
authors.affiliation: Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mozafari
authors.affiliation: Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Younespour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D