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Vitamin D deficiency in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus

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Abstract

Summary

We investigated the effects of disease activity on bone metabolism in 36 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Changes in bone remodeling were not explained by corticosteroid use. A high prevalence of 25OHD deficiency in SLE patients indicates the need for vitamin D replacement, mainly during high disease activity periods.

Introduction

We investigated the effects of SLE disease activity on bone metabolism, their relation to inflammatory cytokines and vitamin D levels.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 36 SLE patients classified according to the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) in high activity (group I: 12 patients, mean age 29.6 years) or in minimal activity (group II: 24 patients, mean age 30.0 years), and compared them to normal controls (group III: 26 women, 32.8 years). Serum calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid and sex hormones, bone remodeling markers, interleukin (IL)-6, soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), IL-1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF), 25-hydroxivitamin D (25OHD), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were measured, plus bone mineral density.

Results

All cytokines were significantly higher in SLE groups; IL-6 could differentiate SLE patients from controls. In group I, 25OHD levels were lower (P < 0.05), which was related to the SLEDAI (R = -0.65, P < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, the 25OHD level was associated with SLEDAI, osteocalcin and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase. The SLEDAI score was positively correlated with all measured cytokines and especially TNF (R = 0.75, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

SLE patients demonstrated changes in bone remodeling strongly related to disease activity. A high prevalence of 25OHD deficiency was observed in SLE patients, indicating the need for vitamin D replacement.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Ilda S. Kunii, Liliam Hayashi, Aparecida F. Machado, Dr. Acir Rachid Filho for technical assistance.

This work was supported by a research grant of FAPESP number 97/02856–5.

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Correspondence to V. Z. C. Borba.

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Borba, V.Z.C., Vieira, J.G.H., Kasamatsu, T. et al. Vitamin D deficiency in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus. Osteoporos Int 20, 427–433 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-008-0676-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-008-0676-1

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