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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.

Conflicts of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    V. Z. C. Borba, J. G. H. Vieira, T. Kasamatsu & M. Lazaretti-Castro

  2. Division of Endocrinology, Serviço de Endocrinologia da Universidade Federal do Paraná (SEMPR), Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil

    V. Z. C. Borba

  3. Division of Rheumatology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil

    S. C. Radominski

  4. Av. Republica Argentina, 665/slot 1402, CEP: 80240-210, Curitiba, Brazil

    V. Z. C. Borba

  5. Division of Rheumatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    E. I. Sato

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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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