Abstract
BackgroundVitamin D (vit D) deficiency has recently been associated with risk of development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this research was to assess vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene expression in Egyptian patients with RA and its relation with the inflammatory state, disease activity, and functional disability.ResultsRA patients had significantly lower vit D level and VDR gene expression compared to controls (mean ± 17.0 ± 6.65, 20.73 ± 8.42 ng/ml, p < 0.05 and 3.29 ± 5.47, 14.22 ± 12.60, p < 0.001 respectively). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for VDR gene expression in RA patients revealed (area under the curve 0.826, cutoff value for low VDR expression 1.05 ng/ml). Patients with low VDR expression had significantly higher ESR, CRP, double positive RF+ anti-CCP+, DAS28, and MHAQ (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.001) respectively.ConclusionVitamin D and VDR expression are significantly lower in RA patients than controls. Patients with low VDR gene expression had significantly higher disease activity and disability. This may suggest that apart from low vit D levels, low VDR expression is associated with inflammatory process and it has a potential role in RA pathogenesis and prognosis. Further multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Highlights
Vitamin D deficiency has recently been associated with risk of development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Study population A case-control study was conducted in the period from June 2018 to June 2019 on 100 subjects classified into two groups: 50 RA patients classified according to the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for RA [17] recruited from Internal Medicine and Rheumatology Department and outpatient clinic in Alexandria University Hospital where the research was conducted; and 50 control subjects with no prior personal or family history of RA or any autoimmune diseases and had no clinical findings suggestive of immunological disorders or chronic infections
In the current study, compared with healthy controls, serum Vit D level was significantly lower in RA patients, still only 18% of the controls had sufficient Vit D level (> 30 ng/ml) demonstrating that Vitamin D (vit D) deficiency and insufficiency were prevalent among both RA patients and controls
Summary
Vitamin D (vit D) deficiency has recently been associated with risk of development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this research was to assess vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene expression in Egyptian patients with RA and its relation with the inflammatory state, disease activity, and functional disability. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases (AIDs) worldwide affecting approximately 0.5 to 1% of total population [1]. RA as a chronic inflammatory disease can lead to joint destruction, systemic complications, progressive disability, or early death [2]. It is well documented that RA patients have an increased risk of cardiovascular events compared to general population, that to date is the most common cause of death in RA [3]. A fundamental need to detect risk factors for early RA diagnosis as well as to determine a novel potential candidate of treating refractory RA is required
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
