Low levels of serum Vitamin D3 in chronic spontaneous urticaria patients: Relation with clinical characteristics

Background Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a distressing disease with a high negative impact on patients' quality of life. Autoimmunity plays a role in the pathophysiology of the disease in a large proportion of patients. An immunomodulatory and tolerance-enhancing effect was described for active forms of vitamin D3, and its deficiency has been linked to several autoimmune diseases. Objective To investigate the link between CSU and vitamin D3 status in the serum. Patients and methods Twenty-five CSU patients were compared with 25 age-matched and sex-matched controls as regards their serum vitamin D3 levels. Relations between different clinical and laboratory aspects of the disease were studied. Results Serum vitamin D3 level is significantly lower in CSU patients as compared with controls. Serum levels of vitamin D3 were not related to disease duration or angioedema development. They had a negative influence on disease severity and therapeutic response to antihistamines. Conclusion Current evidence supports a role for vitamin D3 in the pathophysiology of CSU. Although serum levels of vitamin D3 did not influence disease duration, autoreactivity, and angioedema development, they did influence disease severity and response to treatment. Routine screening for its deficiency needs to be considered, and its prognostic and therapeutic value needs evaluation.