OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the vitamin D status in patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and to determine which clinical symptoms, laboratory parameters and endothelial cell markers are associated with low vitamin D levels. METHODS: 125 female MCTD patients and 48 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The clinical symptoms, autoantibodies (anti-U1-RNP, anti-cardiolipin - anti-CL and anti-endothelial cell antibody - AECA), serum cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-12, IL-23, IL-17 and IL-10), soluble endothelial cell markers (endothelin, thrombomodulin - TM, and von Willebrand factor antigen - vWFAg) and serum lipids (total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, HDL-C, apolipoprotein A1, and apolipoprotein B) were investigated for an association with vitamin D levels by univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. RESULTS: The mean vitamin D levels were significantly lower in MCTD patients, as compared with the control group (26.16±13.50ng/ml vs. 34.92±9.64ng/ml; p<0.001). In laboratory parameters, vitamin D levels were inversely associated with serum IL-6 (p<0.001), IL-23 (p=0.011), IL-10 (p=0.033) cytokine levels, TM (p=0.001) and endothelin (p=0.033) levels. Low vitamin D levels were also significantly associated with carotid artery intima media thickness (p<0.001), fibrinogen (p=0.010), total cholesterol (p=0.042) and ApoA1 (p=0.004) levels. Among the clinical symptoms, the cardiovascular involvement showed an inverse correlation with vitamin D status in MCTD (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is high in patients with MCTD. We assume that vitamin D insufficiency along with inflammatory parameters and lipid abnormalities may provoke cardiovascular events.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the vitamin D status in patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and to determine which clinical symptoms, laboratory parameters and endothelial cell markers are associated with low vitamin D levels. METHODS: 125 female MCTDpatients and 48 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The clinical symptoms, autoantibodies (anti-U1-RNP, anti-cardiolipin - anti-CL and anti-endothelial cell antibody - AECA), serum cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-12, IL-23, IL-17 and IL-10), soluble endothelial cell markers (endothelin, thrombomodulin - TM, and von Willebrand factor antigen - vWFAg) and serum lipids (total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, HDL-C, apolipoprotein A1, and apolipoprotein B) were investigated for an association with vitamin D levels by univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. RESULTS: The mean vitamin D levels were significantly lower in MCTDpatients, as compared with the control group (26.16±13.50ng/ml vs. 34.92±9.64ng/ml; p<0.001). In laboratory parameters, vitamin D levels were inversely associated with serum IL-6 (p<0.001), IL-23 (p=0.011), IL-10 (p=0.033) cytokine levels, TM (p=0.001) and endothelin (p=0.033) levels. Low vitamin D levels were also significantly associated with carotid artery intima media thickness (p<0.001), fibrinogen (p=0.010), total cholesterol (p=0.042) and ApoA1 (p=0.004) levels. Among the clinical symptoms, the cardiovascular involvement showed an inverse correlation with vitamin D status in MCTD (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of vitamin Dinsufficiency is high in patients with MCTD. We assume that vitamin Dinsufficiency along with inflammatory parameters and lipid abnormalities may provoke cardiovascular events.
Authors: Nancy Agmon-Levin; Ron Kopilov; Carlo Selmi; Udi Nussinovitch; María Sánchez-Castañón; Marcos López-Hoyos; Howie Amital; Shaye Kivity; Eric M Gershwin; Yehuda Shoenfeld Journal: Immunol Res Date: 2015-02 Impact factor: 2.829
Authors: Lauren L Ritterhouse; Sherry R Crowe; Timothy B Niewold; Diane L Kamen; Susan R Macwana; Virginia C Roberts; Amy B Dedeke; John B Harley; R Hal Scofield; Joel M Guthridge; Judith A James Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2011-05-17 Impact factor: 19.103