Vitamin D level in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and its correlation with clinical picture of the disease

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the concentration of 1,25(OH)2D and 25(OH)D in patients with newly diagnosed juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) determined before starting therapy and attempt to demonstrate the relationship between serum vitamin D metabolites and the activity and subtype of the disease. Material and methods: A total of 50 children aged 2-16 years, who were diagnosed with JIA, were enrolled in the study. The control group comprised 28 children with matching age and gender, hospitalized due to circulatorysystem functional disorder. The level of the active metabolite of vitamin D in the serawas determined using the radioimmunoassay method and the 25(OH)D was tested using an ELISA immunoassay. Results: The concentration of 1,25(OH)2D in the serum of children withthe disease was statistically significantly lower compared to the children in the control group (34.86 ±17.14 pg/ml vs. 48.47 ±17.99 pg/ml, p = 0.0015 on average, respectively). However, the concentrations of 25(OH)D in both groups were comparable (17.36 ±8.44 ng/ml vs. 17.36 ±16.29 ng/ml on average), but lower than the recommended rate (i.e. < 30 ng/ml ). Higher mean concentrations of the active form of vitamin D in the serum of children with low activity of the disease compared to medium and high activity, but without statistical significance, was found. However, mean concentrations of 25(OH)D were the highest in the group with high disease activity but without statistical signi - ficance. Higher mean concentrations of the active form of vitamin D and 25(OH)D in the serum of children with oligoarthritis disease were demonstrated but without statistical significance. Conclusions: Our results confirm the data on commonly occurring vitamin D deficiency in the developmental age population, which indicates the need for proper supplementation. Our finding - insufficiency of 25(OH)D as well as lower level of 1,25(OH)2 D compared to healthy children - can be the prerequisite for routine evaluation of metabolites of vitamin D in patients with JIA. There were no correlations between activity, type of JIA and metabolites of vitamin D. © 2013 Termedia Sp. z o.o.