Vitamin D deficiency in patients with rheumatic diseases

The vitamin D has direct and indirect effects which might be related to the risk of developing a rheumatic disease or the degree of disease activity (6). We have three evidences which support the role of vitamin D in autoimmune diseases. The first is the presence of vitamin D receptor on extra-osseous cells, such as cartilage cells, sinoviocytes and muscle cells. The second evidence is the proven role of vitamin D in the control of transcription of genes involved in rheumatic diseases. The third evidence is that the activation of vitamin D not only presents in the kidneys, but also in monocyte-macrophage and lymphocytic cell lines (6). Most of our patients 98% with different rheumatic diseases had vitamin D deficiency with vitamin D less than 10 ng/ml (severe deficiency) in 60/98 (61%) patients.

Autorentext

Basma Elhabbash, Consultant reumatoloog in het Tripoli University Hospital. Zij is Associate Pofessor bij de Faculteit der Geneeskunde, Tripoli Universiteit, Tripoli, Libië. Manal Elhabbash, Consultant oncoloog bij Tripoli University Hospital en Associate Professor bij Tripoli University.