title: Severe vitamin D deficiency increases the risk for moderate to severe disease activity in Chinese patients with SLE.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Chinese lupus patients and to assess the association between vitamin D levels and disease severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of 25OHD3 in 121 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 150 healthy controls were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Data regarding demographics and clinical parameters were collected. Disease activity of SLE was evaluated according to the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score and irreversible organ damage by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinic/American College of Rheumatology, SLICC/ACR Damage Index (SDI). The multivariate logistic regression model was used to investigate the association between the degree of vitamin D deficiency and SLEDAI or SDI scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (25OHD3 <30 ng/ml) and severe deficiency (25OHD3 <10 ng/ml) in SLE patients was 62.81% and 34.71%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the cut-off point of 25OHD3 concentration was 10 ng/ml where its level was correlated with increased SLEDAI (OR 6.420, p = 0.006), but not with the SDI. In addition, hydroxychloroquine treatment lowered the SLEDAI increased by the severe 25OHD3 deficiency (OR 0.280, p = 0.008). Moreover, long disease duration (OR 1.014, p = 0.008) predicted moderate to severe organ damage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in patients with SLE. Severe deficiency increases the risk for moderate to severe disease activity, but not for organ damage.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology, Zhengzhou, Henan province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: C-C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology, Zhengzhou, Henan province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: S-Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology, Zhengzhou, Henan province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Z-Z
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology, Zhengzhou, Henan province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: T-F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology, Zhengzhou, Henan province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: G-M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology, Zhengzhou, Henan province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Z-S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Rheumatology, Zhengzhou, Henan province, People's Republic of China 1330868233@qq.com zhangsuoliuzdyfy@163.com.
authors.forename: Z-H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006886:Hydroxychloroquine; D002112:Calcifediol
keywords: 25OHD3; SDI; SLEDAI; Systemic lupus erythematosus; vitamin D deficiency