Giulia Bivona1, Luisa Agnello1, Alessia Pivetti1, Salvatore Milano2, Concetta Scazzone1, Bruna Lo Sasso1, Marcello Ciaccio3. 1. Sezione Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy. 2. UOC Medicina di Laboratorio - CoreLab, AOUP "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy. 3. Sezione Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy; UOC Medicina di Laboratorio - CoreLab, AOUP "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: marcello.ciaccio@unipa.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is considered a major factor triggering and enhancing several autoimmune disorders; hypovitaminosis D has been reported to be common in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Previous studies assessing vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency in SSc have been reviewed, and the relation with pathogenesis and clinical features has been examined. CONTENT: Eligibility criteria were: reporting measurement of Vitamin D serum levels in all participants and evaluating adult onset-SSc individuals as patients group. RESULTS: The association between clinical features and low hormone levels is controversial. Manifold data have shown vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency to have a potential role in the pathogenesis of disease, providing inconclusive findings. SUMMARY: Promoting the onset of SSc depends on the interaction between genetics, environment and infections. It remains a sound question whether Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is an environment-linked immunological heckler, making infectious agents taking root.
BACKGROUND:Vitamin Dinsufficiency/deficiency is considered a major factor triggering and enhancing several autoimmune disorders; hypovitaminosis D has been reported to be common in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Previous studies assessing vitamin Dinsufficiency/deficiency in SSc have been reviewed, and the relation with pathogenesis and clinical features has been examined. CONTENT: Eligibility criteria were: reporting measurement of Vitamin D serum levels in all participants and evaluating adult onset-SSc individuals as patients group. RESULTS: The association between clinical features and low hormone levels is controversial. Manifold data have shown vitamin Dinsufficiency/deficiency to have a potential role in the pathogenesis of disease, providing inconclusive findings. SUMMARY: Promoting the onset of SSc depends on the interaction between genetics, environment and infections. It remains a sound question whether Vitamin Dinsufficiency/deficiency is an environment-linked immunological heckler, making infectious agents taking root.