title: Evaluation of vitamin D levels in allergic fungal sinusitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and chronic rhinosinusitis with polyposis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D3 (VD3 ) levels have been recently found to be responsible for a number of immunological, anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious roles. Some studies reported that some forms of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS), occurs more commonly in patients who are more susceptible to VD3 deficiency. The aim of this work was to measure VD3 levels in patients with AFRS and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a prospective case control study conducted at Ain Shams University. It included 74 participants divided into 4 groups: group A, 25 patients with AFRS; group B, 15 patients with CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP); group C: 15 patients with CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP); and group D, 19 controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant (p < 0.001) difference of VD3 between groups A and B compared with groups C and D. There were no statistically significant differences between the 4 groups regard calcium levels. Finally, there was a statistically significant difference in phosphate levels when we compared groups A and B with groups C and D (p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum level of VD3 in patient with CRSwNP and AFRS is significantly lower than that of patients with CRSsNP and control subjects. Although these results do not imply a specific etiological or therapeutic relationship, VD3 levels may constitute an inexpensive prophylactic and cost-effective option in the therapeutic armamentarium in the control of AFRS and CRSwNP, either by itself or as a synergistic agent with traditional agents.
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Badr El-Din
authors.initials: Bel-D
authors.lastname: Mostafa
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammed Shehata
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abdel Hamid
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology Department, El-mataria Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Azza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Omran
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology Department, Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Neema
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lotfi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002762:Cholecalciferol; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Allergic fungal sinusitis; Chronic sinusitis; Vitamin D; allergic rhinitis; sinusitis with polypi