Juvenile lupus and serum vitamin D levels: A cross-sectional study

Background Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) is usually associated with vitamin D deficiency and low bone mineral density. Objectives To evaluate serum levels of 25-OH vitamin D in JSLE patients and to correlate these findings with disease activity and bone density. Methods This study was conducted on 100 patients with JSLE and 100 healthy children as controls. Disease duration and SLEDAI for disease activity were evaluated. CBC, anti-dsDNA, C3,C4,24hr urinary proteins, creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate(e-GFR),Ca,P,PTH, 25 (OH) D levels, and bone mineral density(BMD)Z score were measured. Results There were significant differences in mean 25(OH)D concentration between patients group (19.37 ± 9.72 ng/ml) and controls 35.90 ± 9.66 ng/ml(p < 0.05), with significant difference between active and inactive patients (p < 0.05).There were significant negative correlations between serum 25(OH)D and SLEDAI (r-0.545, p 0.001), steroid dose (r-0.561, p 0.001), anti-dsDNA (r-0.685, p 0.006), 24 hr-proteinuria (r-0.738, p 0.001) and PTH (r-0.335, p 0.001), significant positive correlations between 25(OH)D and C3 (r0.617, p 0.001),C4 (r0.544, p 0.001) serum Ca (r0.424, p 0.001) and Z score (r0.561, p 0.001),with non-significant correlations between 25(OH)D and serum P and both disease & steroid duration, (p > 0.05). Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency is common in JSLE, it’s correlated significantly with disease activity and bone mineral density.