Vitamin D in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with and without nephropathy

Abstract EN

Background Limited data are available on vitamin D deficiency in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with and without nephropathy.

Aim The aim of this study was to determine serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] levels in patients with SLE versus controls and also to correlate these levels with clinical and laboratory parameters.

Patients and methods This study included 80 premenopausal female participants, divided into three groups, matched for age.

Group I included 24 SLE patients with lupus nephropathy (eight of them on regular hemodialysis); group II included 36 SLE patients without lupus nephropathy; and group III included 20 healthy controls.

Results Serum 25(OH) D levels were significantly lower in group I versus groups II and III (P=0.007 and P=0.001, respectively).

Also, they were significantly lower in group II versus group III, (P=0.001).

Serum 25(OH) D levels were significantly associated with fatigue (P=0.001) and significantly negatively correlated with SLE Disease Activity Index (r= – 0.275, P=0.033).

Serum creatinine and calcium levels were significant predictors of serum 25(OH) D levels for all SLE patients (t=3.23, P=0.002; and t=8.81, Po0.001).

Conclusion Premenopausal female SLE patients have significantly low serum 25(OH) D levels, particularly in those with lupus nephropathy.

Serum 25(OH) D levels are correlated negatively with disease activity, and associated with fatigue, in SLE patients.

Total leukocytic count, serum creatinine, and serum calcium levels are of particular importance for the prediction of 25(OH) D deficiency in these patients.

Therefore, we suggest measurement of serum 25(OH) D levels in SLE patients experiencing increasing tiredness.

Also, we recommend calcium and vitamin D supplementation, particularly for those patients with leukopenia and lupus nephropathy.