Serum Vitamin D Levels in Patients with Acute Anterior Uveitis

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in patients with acute anterior uveitis (AAU).

Methods: This observational case–control study involved 20 patients with AAU, and 20 consecutive, age and sex-matched healthy subjects without any ocular or systemic diseases. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was quantified with electrochemiluminescence technique.

Results: No significant differences were found between the groups with respect to age (p = 0.185) and sex (p = 0.465). Serum vitamin D levels of the subjects with AAU (mean 5.75 ± 4.50 ng/mL, median 4.00 ng/mL, range: 3.00–19.00 ng/mL) were significantly lower than the control group (mean 12.96 ± 5.89 ng/mL, median 11.00 ng/mL, range: 5.20–25.92 ng/mL) (p<0.001).

Conclusions: We found significantly low serum levels of vitamin D in patients with AAU, which suggest that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of anterior uveitis. Further studies are necessary to demonstrate the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in the management of patients with anterior uveitis.

Keywords:

• Acute anterior uveitis
• immune system
• pathogenesis
• rheumatologic diseases
• vitamin D

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.