ABSTRACT
Objective The aim of this study was to detect the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D)and anti-vitamin D levels in new cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),and to investigate their clinical significance.Methods Fifty patients who fulfilled the ACR criteria for the classification of SLE and 36 healthy donors were included.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed for serum 25 [OH] D and anti-vitamin D level measurement.Statistical methods used were t-test and Pearson's correalation analysis.Results The serum 25-OH-D level in SLE was (13±6) ng/ml,and the level in healthy donors wase (17±8)ng/ml,P =0.007); the difference was statistically significant.A significant negative correlation was demonstrated between the serum level of vitamin D and the 24 h urinary protein excretion (r=-0.314,P＜0.01),and the level of serum creatinine (r=-0.322,P＜0.01).Anti-vitamin D antibody was detected in 6 of 50 patients with SLE,in 10 of 36 sera from healthy donors.There was no difference of 25-OH-D level between the anti-vitamin D antibody positive group and anti-vitamin D antibodu negative group [(13±6) and (14±6) ng/ml in the SLE group; (17±6) and (18±9) ng/ml in the healthy control group].Conclusion The serum 25-OH-D level in SLE is low; however,it is not correlated with Anti-vitamin D antibody,but is correlated with renal lesions.So the serum 25-OH-D level may be important in the pathogenesis of SLE.