Evaluation of vitamin D levels in children with primary epistaxis.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D 3] values and incidences of primary epistaxis among children.


METHODS
A total of 42 cases and 55 matched controls were included in our study. The study group and control group were well matched for age and gender. Age, gender, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) with reference to the international normalized ratio (INR), prothrombin time (PT), and 25(OH)D 3, parathormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and phosphorus (P) values were recorded for each participant.


RESULTS
Serum 25(OH) D values were found to be statistically significantly (P = 0.03) lower in children with primary epistaxis than in the healthy control group. Our study also revealed that 25(OH) D values were considerably (P < 0.001) lower in the group with primary epistaxis and upper respiratory tract infections (RTI) than in the group with primary epistaxis without upper RTI. Univariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that 25(OH)D 3 < 20 ng/ml [odds ratio (OR) 1.117, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.019-1.225); P = 0.019] and serum albumin level [OR 3.499, 95% CI (1072-11,426); P = 0.038] ratio were significantly related to primary epistaxis. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that 25(OH)D 3 < 20 ng/ml [OR 1.141, 95% CI (1047-1242); P = 0.003] and serum albumin level [OR 3.340, 95% CI (1068-10,446); P = 0.038] ratio were significantly related to primary epistaxis.


CONCLUSIONS
Many studies have revealed that vitamin D is a preventive and therapeutic agent for inflammation and infection, thereby providing benefits for children with primary epistaxis. In line with this, our study suggested that a patient's vitamin D status could also be important for the prevention of childhood primary epistaxis, although further studies are required to validate our findings.
Adiyaman University, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Adiyaman, Turkey. Electronic address: drhabipalmis@yahoo.com.
Habip
H
Almis
Adiyaman University, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Adiyaman, Turkey.
Ibrahim Hakan
IH
Bucak
Adiyaman University, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Adiyaman, Turkey.
Muhammed Nebi
MN
Caliskan
Adiyaman University, School of Medicine Department of Infectious Disease, Adiyaman, Turkey.
Mehmet
M
Turgut
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
D012709:Serum Albumin; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
25 hydroxy vitamin D; Child; Epistaxis; Infection