Vitamin D in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, a Plausible Marker of Advanced Disease

Overview

Journal Immunol Res

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2014 Nov 27

PMID 25424577

Citations 22

Authors

Nancy Agmon-Levin

Ron Kopilov

Carlo Selmi

Udi Nussinovitch

Maria Sanchez-Castanon

Marcos Lopez-Hoyos

Howie Amital

Shaye Kivity

Eric M Gershwin

Yehuda Shoenfeld

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Vitamin D immune-modulating effects were extensively studied, and low levels have been linked with autoimmune diseases. The associations of vitamin D with autoimmune diseases of the liver, and particularly primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), are yet to be defined. Hence, in this study, serum levels of vitamin D were determined in 79 patients with PBC and 70 age- and sex-matched controls by the LIAISON chemiluminescent immunoassays (DiaSorin-Italy). Clinical and serological parameters of patients were analyzed with respect to vitamin D status. Mean levels of vitamin D were significantly lower among patients with PBC compared with controls (16.8 ± 9 vs. 22.1 ± 9 ng/ml; p = 0.029), and vitamin D deficiency (≤10 ng/ml) was documented in 33% of patients with PBC versus 7% of controls (p < 0.0001). Vitamin D levels inversely correlated with advanced liver damage and the presence of concomitant autoimmune diseases. In contrast, higher levels of vitamin D were observed among patients with PBC treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). In conclusion, low vitamin D levels are common among patients with PBC and correlate with advanced disease, lack of UDCA therapy and autoimmune comorbidity. This alludes to the plausible roles of vitamin D as a prognostic marker of PBC severity, and as a potential player in this disease pathogenesis. While further studies are awaited, monitoring vitamin D in patients with PBC and use of supplements may be advisable.

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