title: Serum Vitamin D Levels in Children with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D3] levels of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 62 non-atopic healthy children (64.5% male, mean age 10.79 ± 3.3 years) and 29 VKC children (75.9%, mean age 12.17 ± 2.7 years) were included in the study. Serum 25(OH)D3 levels measured by HPLC were compared between the two groups and a p value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum 25(OH)D3 level of VKC group was significantly lower than in the control group (11.02 ± 5.16 ng/mL and 15.99 ± 7.36 ng/mL, respectively) (p = 0.002). Severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/mL) was detected in 48.3% of VKC children and 22.6% of the controls (p = 0.017). Time spent outdoors during daylight was higher in the control group (229.5 ± 101.2 min) compared with the VKC group (160.7 ± 65.9 min) (p = 0.008), and showed a significant correlation with serum 25(OH)D3 levels (Spearman rho = 0.812) (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with VKC should be evaluated for vitamin D deficiency, which might occur secondary to sun avoidance.
authors: a Departments of Ophthalmology , Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine , Selcuklu , Konya , Turkey.
authors: Banu
authors: B
authors: Bozkurt
authors: b Pediatric Allergy and Immunology , Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine , Selcuklu , Konya , Turkey.
authors: Hasibe
authors: H
authors: Artac
authors: b Pediatric Allergy and Immunology , Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine , Selcuklu , Konya , Turkey.
authors: Hulya
authors: H
authors: Ozdemir
authors: c Biochemistry , Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine , Selcuklu , Konya , Turkey.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Ünlü
authors: d Otolaryngology , Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine , Selcuklu , Konya , Turkey.
authors: Mete Kaan
authors: MK
authors: Bozkurt
authors: e Department of Ophthalmology , Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine , Ankara , Turkey.
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Irkec
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D002112:Calcifediol
keywords: Serum 25(OH)D; sun avoidance; vernal keratoconjunctivitis; vitamin D deficiency