Acerca de lúpus, vitamina D e leucopenia

Anti-vitamin D antibodies

BACKGROUND

Low vitamin D levels are commonly observed in autoimmune diseases, suggesting a potential role in disease pathogenesis. The presence of anti-vitamin D antibodies may contribute to these deficiencies and influence autoimmune processes.

OBJECTIVE

To review and analyze studies investigating the occurrence of anti-vitamin D antibodies in autoimmune diseases.

RESULTS

Three studies, comprising a total of 345 patients, were reviewed. The autoimmune conditions included systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), scleroderma (SSc), primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (pAPS), and pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Patient mean ages ranged from 26.8 to 31 years, with the proportion of female participants ranging from 87 % to 96 %. The duration of disease varied between 6.3 and 12.3 years. Serum vitamin D levels ranged from 11.71 ± 7.21 to 28.4 ± 9.6 ng/mL, with 57.1 % to 82.1 % of patients presenting vitamin D deficiency. The prevalence of anti-vitamin D antibodies was reported as follows: 87 % in SSc, 11 % in PV, 4 % to 6.1 % in SLE, and 3.5 % in pAPS. Associations with other disease markers were also noted: in SLE, anti-vitamin D antibodies were associated with anti-dsDNA antibodies; while in SSc, their presence was linked to the disease itself.

CONCLUSION

Anti-vitamin D antibodies were identified in 3.5 % to 87 % of patients with SLE, SSc, pAPS, and PV. These antibodies are associated either with the autoimmune condition itself or with other autoantibodies, suggesting their potential role in disease mechanisms and progression.

Vitamin D in Colombian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and its correlation with disease activity

Introduction

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) frequently present low levels of vitamin D. However, studies that have evaluated its association with disease activity have generated contradictory results.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out on patients diagnosed with SLE in two hospitals in Manizales, Colombia. Disease activity was evaluated by the SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured by chemiluminescence. The correlation analysis was accomplished with the Spearman correlation coefficient.

Results

The study included 51 patients. The median SLEDAI-2K score was 8 points. The mean serum level of 25(OH)D was 24.5 ng/ml. Of the participants, 37.3% had vitamin D insufficiency and 35.3% had deficiency. An inverse correlation was found between the levels of the 25(OH)D and the SLEDAI-2K score ( r = –0.578, p < 0.001), being greater in late-onset lupus, with absence of polyautoimmunity and in patients using glucocorticoids.

Conclusions

Low levels of vitamin D are frequent in SLE, presenting an inverse correlation with the disease activity. This is influenced by the use of glucocorticoids, the presence of late-onset lupus and the absence of polyautoimmunity.