Comparison of vitamin D profile between patients with inflammatory and non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases

Özet

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare serum vitamin D levels in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and non-inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders presenting with pain. Methods: Patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 consisted of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases; group 2, non-inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders; and group 3, healthy controls. The plasma levels of 25(OH)D <10 ng/mL were accepted as vitamin D insufficiency. Correlation between pain intensity (visual analog scale), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, disease activity score 28 (DAS28)-CRP for rheumatoid arthritis patients, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index for ankylosing spondylitis patients, and 25(OH)D levels were analyzed. Results: Eighty-one patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (group 1, mean age=47.8±12.2 years), 26 patients with non-inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders (group 2, mean age=46.6±4.5 years), and 36 healthy controls (group 3, mean age=45.2±9.2 years) were included. There was a significant difference among the groups regarding 25(OH)D levels (group 1=16.4±11.3 ng/mL, group 2=13.9±6.4 ng/mL, group 3=20.4±8.2 ng/mL) (p=0.031). 25(OH)D levels in patients with non-inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases were lower than the healthy controls (p=0.003). No significant difference was seen between two patient groups (p=0.334). There was a weak-to-moderate negative correlation between pain intensity, ESR, CRP, DAS28-CRP and 25(OH)D levels (r=-0.302, p=0.002; r=-0.259, p=0.020; r=-0.259, p=0.020; r=-0.374, p=0.022 respectively). Conclusions: The results of this study are important in terms of routine monitoring and replacement of vitamin D in case of deficiency in chronic inflammatory and non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases presenting with pain.