Correlation of Rheumatoid arthritis disease severity with serum vitamin D levels

Abstract

Background and aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder marked by characteristic inflammation of the small joints in addition to diverse systemic manifestations. Vitamin D has immunomodulatory properties, and its deficiency has a significant role in the clinical course of RA. The present research was conducted to study the correlation between serum vitamin D levels and disease activity scores in RA patients.

Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out on a sample of 50 patients presenting with RA. Disease activity was measured using Modified Disease Activity Score (DAS) criteria. Estimation of serum Vitamin D levels were done using the electrochemiluminescence method and values less than 20 ng/ml were considered as deficiency. Vitamin D levels were then correlated with disease activity scores.

Results: The Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 50% of the study population. Rheumatoid arthritis showed female preponderance in this study. Inflammatory markers such as C - reactive protein (CRP) levels and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) did not differ with RA disease activity. More the number of large joints involved lesser were the vitamin D levels. There was an inverse correlation between Vitamin D levels and RA disease activity.

Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is significantly correlated with disease severity of RA. This study points to the importance of screening for deficit of vitamin D among RA patients and treat it as early as possible.

Keywords: Auto-immune; Deficiency; Disease activity; Rheumatoid arthritis; Vitamin D.