Vitamin D Status in Moroccan Patients with Pemphigus

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the vitamin D status and the factors that may influence this vitamin in Moroccan patients with pemphigus.
Study Design: case-control study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Dermatology at the University Hospital of Rabat-Salé between 2012 and 2013.
Methods: In this case-control study, 30 patients with pemphigus were included. Sixty healthy persons were recruited to serve as controls. The patients underwent anthropometric assessment and clinical evaluation. Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin [25(OH) D] D2 and D3 were measured using radioimmunoassay. Hypovitaminosis D was defined as serum 25(OH) D <30 ng/ml.
Results: The average age of participants was 56 years ± 11.4. Hypovitaminosis D was observed in 100% of patients. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was higher (p <0.001) in patients than in controls. Serum 25(OH) D levels were associated with disease duration (r=0.34, p=0.05), ESR (r=-0.31, p=0.05) and PTH (r=-0.66, p<0.001). No relationship was found between serum 25(OH) D levels and the other characteristics related to patients or pemphigus.
Conclusions: Our study suggested that serum levels of vitamin D were significantly lower in Moroccan patients with pemphigus. Future studies with a larger population are needed to confirm our results.