Abstract
Background:In recent years, the role of Vitamin D (VitD), as an immunomedulator in autoimmune diseases, has been evaluated in basic science and practice. There is a considerable volume of data on the effect of VitD position in lupus and rheumatoid arthritis exacerbation.Objective:This study aims to compare VitD serum values in lupus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in the geographical region of northeastern Iran.Methods:Lupus and RA Patients were selected with various disease activity levels. All the patients received an equal amount of VitD supplementation and were selected by the same inclusion and exclusion criteria. VitD serum values were measured by a commercial ELISA kit. Data were analyzed in SPSS-15.Results:A total of 148 SLE and 156 RA patients were studied. VitD serum levels were 66.54±41.2 nmol/l in the SLE group and 83.74±46.45 nmol/l in the RA group. Statistical analysis showed that VitD serum levels were lower in lupus patients than RA ones (p=0.006).Conclusion: Since VitD deficiency is very common in Iran, physiologic doses of VitD supplementation in patients lead to higher serum levels of VitD. Lower VitD values in lupus patients compared with RA ones may stem from intestinal malabsorption, higher doses of corticosteroid therapy, renal involvement and proteinuria, different polymorphisms of VitD receptors, and more sun protection strategies in lupus patients.
Highlights
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are two important autoimmune diseases in which the immunomedulatory role of vitamin D (VitD) has been evaluated appropriately
Since Vitamin D (VitD) deficiency is very common in Iran, physiologic doses of VitD supplementation in patients lead to higher serum levels of VitD
Lower VitD values in lupus patients compared with RA ones may stem from intestinal malabsorption, higher doses of corticosteroid therapy, renal involvement and proteinuria, different polymorphisms of VitD receptors, and more sun protection strategies in lupus patients
Summary
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are two important autoimmune diseases in which the immunomedulatory role of vitamin D (VitD) has been evaluated appropriately. VitD has been diagnosed in recent years more as a secosteroid than a mere vitamin. It contributes to the modulation of the immune response by inhibiting actions of innate and adaptive immune cells [1]. VitD inhibits B cell proliferation prior to acquiring immunoglobulin secreting capabilities. It blocks differentiation of monocytes into dendritic cells (DC), decreases the production of IL-12, INF-γ, IL-2, and enhances IL-10 production [6]. The role of Vitamin D (VitD), as an immunomedulator in autoimmune diseases, has been evaluated in basic science and practice. There is a considerable volume of data on the effect of VitD position in lupus and rheumatoid arthritis exacerbation
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