title: Serum 25-OH vitamin D level in treatment-naïve systemic lupus erythematosus patients: Relation to disease activity, IL-23 and IL-17.
abstract: Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the vitamin D status in treatment-naïve SLE patients and its association with clinical and laboratory markers of disease activity, including serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23. Methods Fifty-seven treatment-naïve SLE patients along with 42 matched controls were included. SLEDAI score was used to estimate disease activity. Serum levels of 25(OH) D, IL-17 and IL-23 were measured. Results The median level of 25(OH) D in SLE patients (40.8; 4-70 ng/ml) was significantly lower than in the controls (47; 25-93 ng/ml) ( P = 0.001). A total of 38.6% of SLE cases had 25 (OH) D levels < 30 ng/ml (hypovitaminosis D) vs. 4.8% of the controls ( P < 0.0001). Apart from thrombocytopenia, vitamin D was not associated with clinical signs of SLE. There were negative correlations between serum 25(OH) D and serum levels of IL-17, IL-23 and ANA (rho = -0.5, -0.8, -0.5, P ≤ 0.05) in SLE patients. Conclusion Hypovitaminosis D is prevalent in treatment naïve SLE patients. It contributes to ANA antibody production and is associated with high serum levels of IL-23 and IL-17; thus they may trigger the inflammatory process in SLE.
authors.affiliation: 1 Rheumatology & Immunology, Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shahin
authors.affiliation: 2 Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: El-Farahaty
authors.affiliation: 3 Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Houssen
authors.affiliation: 4 Rheumatology & Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Machaly
authors.affiliation: 5 Andrology & STDs Departments, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sallam
authors.affiliation: 4 Rheumatology & Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: ElSaid
authors.affiliation: 4 Rheumatology & Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: N O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Neseem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D015415:Biomarkers; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: 25 OH vitamin D; Disease activity (SLEDAI); IL-17; IL-23; systemic lupus erythematosus