Objective: Autoimmunity is an important factor in the pathogenesis of Behcet Disease emphasized in
recent years In recent studies, Vitamin D has been demonstrated to play a significant role in immune
system functioning. The measurement of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D
3 levels, is accepted as a clinical
indicator of vitamin D status. This study aimed to investigate plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D
3 in
patients with Behcet disease and to evaluate their raltionship to disease activity and inflammmatory
markers.
Material and Methods: Twenty eight active Behcet Disease and fourty eight inactive Behcet Disease
patients diagnosed according to the International Study Group Criteria for Behcet Disease and fourty
two healthy volunteers as control group were included in this study. They were recruited from the
impatient and outpatient clinics of Dermatology of Okmeydani educational and researching hospitals in
the period between March 2016 and June 2016. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was
determined according to the Westergren method and C-reactive protein (CRP) by turbidimetric method.
25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels were determined by Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
Statistical analysis of data was performed with SPSS 17.0.1 package program.
Results: Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels of active, inactive patients and controls were 13,25±8,8
ng/mL, 11,06 ng/mL and 21,99±6 ng/mL respectively. In patients with Behcet’s Disease, 25-
hydroxyvitamin D3 values were significantly lower than those of the healthy controls (p<0,001). There
were no significant differences between active Behcet Disease and inactive Behcet Disease groups
regarding 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (p>0,05). Significant negative correlations of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin
D3 levels with ESR and CRP were found in the inactive Behcet Diseases ( CRP r= -0,426 p=0,007, ESR
r= -0,340 p=0,034).
Conclusion: As the result of this study, plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 were significantly low in
Behcet Disease patients compared to control groups. On account of our study suggests that deficiency
of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 may be predisposition factor for Behcet Disease. However, associations were
not found between 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and disease activity as well as ESR and CRP in the
Behcet Disease patients.