Serum Vitamin D Levels as Biomarkers in Patients with Autoimmune Uveitis and their Possible Correlation with Disease Activity

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the correlation between serum vitamin D levels and intraocular inflammation in patients with autoimmune uveitis (AIU). We evaluated 67 patients with active and inactive AIU and measured their serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration, sun exposure habits, number of relapses, and complications. Of the patients evaluated, 85% had significantly lower vitamin D levels, and patients with active uveitis had lower 25(OH)D levels than those with inactive uveitis. The odds of developing active uveitis decreased by 6% with each 1-unit increase in 25(OH)D. Patients with recurrent active AIU had significantly lower 25(OH)D serum levels than inactive forms, indicating that low vitamin D levels may alter the clinical course of intraocular inflammation in AIU. Additionally, the study found that a higher mean BMI increased the chances of an individual having active uveitis by 14%. These results suggest that serum vitamin D concentration could be a prognostic clinical biomarker in AIU.

KEYWORDS:

• 1,25(OH)2D
• 25(OH)D
• autoimmune uveitis
• interleukin 17
• ocular immunity
• Th17 cells
• vitamin D

Acknowledgments

We thank the SAGAP’O Laboratory for processing the 25(OH)D tests, required for this study.

We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).