Brief communication: Vitamin D serum levels in American tegumentary leishmaniasis from an endemic area in Northeast Brazil

Introduction: The pathogenesis of cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis is associated with different immune responses. Vitamin D may modulate the immune system. Here we evaluate the association of vitamin D levels with the severity of the clinical forms of cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis. Methods:...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lorena Pinheiro Figueiredo, Thiago Cerqueira-Silva, Andréa Magalhães, Ednaldo Lima Lago, Marcus Miranda Lessa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-01-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1413867022004135
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Summary:Introduction: The pathogenesis of cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis is associated with different immune responses. Vitamin D may modulate the immune system. Here we evaluate the association of vitamin D levels with the severity of the clinical forms of cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis. Methods: We conducted an observational study evaluating the association between vitamin D levels, disease severity and therapeutic response in patients with cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis. Additionally, we conducted a cross-sectional study to compare vitamin D levels in patients with leishmaniasis and healthy subjects. Hypovitaminosis D was defined as a serum level of 25 (OH) D < 30 ng/mL. Results: In patients with leishmaniasis, vitamin D serum levels were 38.5 ± 11.54 ng/mL, and 37.5 ± 10.43 ng/mL in healthy subjects The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 23.3% and 20.0%, respectively (p = 0.72). There was no correlation between vitamin D serum levels, disease severity, and healing time in the mucosal leishmaniasis group. Conclusion: Vitamin D levels are not associated with neither susceptibility nor severity of tegumentary leishmaniasis.
ISSN:1413-8670