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Vitamin D insufficiency in a large MCTD population
Agota Hajas1, Janos Sandor, Laszlo Csathy
13rd Department of Medicine, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Autoimmunity Reviews
|December 16, 2010
Summary
Patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) have high rates of vitamin D insufficiency. Low vitamin D levels are linked to cardiovascular issues, inflammation, and lipid abnormalities in MCTD patients.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
Background:
- Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is an autoimmune disorder with diverse clinical manifestations.
- Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly recognized as a potential factor in autoimmune diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess vitamin D status in MCTD patients.
- To identify clinical, laboratory, and endothelial markers associated with low vitamin D levels in MCTD.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 125 female MCTD patients and 48 healthy controls.
- Analysis of clinical symptoms, autoantibodies, serum cytokines, soluble endothelial markers, and serum lipids.
- Statistical analysis to determine associations with vitamin D levels.
Main Results:
- MCTD patients exhibited significantly lower mean vitamin D levels compared to controls.
- Low vitamin D was inversely associated with IL-6, IL-23, IL-10, thrombomodulin, and endothelin.
- Vitamin D deficiency correlated with increased carotid artery intima media thickness, fibrinogen, total cholesterol, ApoA1, and cardiovascular involvement.
Conclusions:
- High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in MCTD patients.
- Vitamin D insufficiency, inflammation, and dyslipidemia may contribute to cardiovascular events in MCTD.
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