25-Hydroxy vitamin D levels and its relation to disease activity and cardiovascular risk factors in women with systemic lupus erythematosus

Aim of the work: To evaluate the associations of serum 25 hydroxy (OH) vitamin D [25(OH) D] levels with cardiovascular risk factors as well as disease activity in women with SLE. Patients and methods: Fifty women with SLE as well as 30 controls were included in our study. Data collected included, demographics, SLE activity and damage assessments, cardiovascular risk factors, medications and laboratory assessment of inflammatory markers and 25(OH) D levels. Stepwise logistic regression analysis were used to estimate the association of 25(OH) D levels with cardiovascular risk factors. Results: A significant lower 25(OH) D levels was found in SLE patients compared to controls (P < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between 25(OH) D and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, BMI, as well as proteinuria and C3 levels. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between 25(OH) D and the RT carotid artery stenosis and RT carotid artery plaque and the intima media thickness of both left and right carotid arteries. Lower 25(OH) D levels were also significantly associated with higher SLE disease activity and damage scores and steroid cumulative dose. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that higher BMI, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and diabetes mellitus act as predictors of lower 25(OH) D levels. Conclusion: Our study found an association between lower 25(OH) D levels and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, as well as increased SLE disease activity and damage indices. Future studies are needed to determine relation of 25(OH) D and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with lupus. (C) 2011 Egyptian Society for Joint Diseases and Arthritis. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.