title: Serum Vitamin D Levels Not Associated with Atopic Dermatitis Severity.
abstract: The objective of the current study was to determine the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) in a Brazilian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study of patients younger than 14 years of age seen from April to November 2013. All patients fulfilled the Hanifin and Rajka Diagnostic Criteria for AD diagnosis. Disease severity was determined using the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis index and classified as mild (<25), moderate (25-50), or severe (>50). Serum vitamin D levels were classified as sufficient (≥30 ng/mL), insufficient (29-21 ng/mL), or deficient (≤20 ng/mL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 105 patients met the inclusion criteria. Mild AD was diagnosed in 58 (55.2%) children, moderate in 24 (22.8%), and severe in 23 (21.9%). Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 45 individuals (42.9%). Of these, 24 (53.3%) had mild AD, 13 (28.9%) moderate, and 8 (17.7%) severe. Insufficient vitamin D levels were found in 45 (42.9%) individuals; 24 (53.3%) had mild AD, 9 (20.0%) moderate, and 12 (26.7%) severe. Of the 15 individuals (14.2%) with sufficient vitamin D levels, 10 (60.7%) had mild AD, 2 (13.3%) moderate, and 3 (20.0%) severe. The mean vitamin D level was 22.1 ± 7.3 ng/mL in individuals with mild AD, 20.8 ± 6.5 ng/mL in those with moderate AD, and 21.9 ± 9.3 ng/mL in those with severe AD. Variables such as sex, age, skin phototype, season of the year, and bacterial infection were not significantly associated with vitamin D levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were deficient or insufficient in 85% of the children, but serum vitamin D concentrations were not significantly related to AD severity.
authors: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas da UFPR, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
authors: Renata
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3726-5240
authors: R
authors: Robl
authors: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas da UFPR, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
authors: Marjorie
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2397-8047
authors: M
authors: Uber
authors: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas da UFPR, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
authors: Kerstin Taniguchi
authors: KT
authors: Abagge
authors: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas da UFPR, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
authors: Monica Nunes
authors: MN
authors: Lima
authors: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas da UFPR, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
authors: Vânia Oliveira
authors: VO
authors: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D