title: Vitamin D Deficiency in Adult Sickle Cell Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D levels in adult black Americans with sickle cell disease (SCD) are comparatively lower than those found in the general population of black Americans. The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in adults with various subtypes of sickle cell disease and identify risk factors for vitamin D deficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective study serum Vitamin D25(OH)D and/or VitaminD1,25(OH)2D levels were obtained in 120 subjects with sickle cell disease. Baseline studies also included LFTs, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, and creatinine levels. In a portion of subjects that were treated with oral ergocalciferol vitamin D levels and chemistries were obtained within 6 months of treatment. Data was statistically analyzed with Welch two sample t-tests and individual simple linear regressions (including logarithmic values) for each variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vitamin D25(OH)D levels were found to be significantly lower in a group of subjects with Hgb SS disease, than in a group with other subtypes of sickle cell disease. In both groups combined, significant (p = 0.05) and clinically suggestive negative correlations with Vitamin D25(OH)D were seen for total bilirubin and total protein, respectively. When total bilirubin and total protein levels were compared between the Hgb SS and HgbS/other groups, t-test revealed these levels were significantly higher in the Hgb SS group levels at p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low total Vitamin D25(OH)D levels in adults with sickle cell disease may be a reflection of chronic inflammation and overall disease severity.
authors.affiliation: East Carolina University School of Medicine, Deptarment of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, 600 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC 27834, USA. Electronic address: BOETTGERP@ecu.edu.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Boettger
authors.affiliation: East Carolina University School of Medicine, Deptarment of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, 600 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Knupp
authors.affiliation: East Carolina University School of Medicine, Deptarment of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, 600 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
authors.forename: Darla K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Liles
authors.affiliation: East Carolina University School of Medicine, Deptarment of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, 600 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
authors.forename: Kaitlyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D000078331:Correlation of Data; D004913:Erythrocytes, Abnormal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Sickle cell disease; Vitamin D binding protein; Vitamin D deficiency; Vitamin D1,25(OH)2D; Vitamin D25(OH)D