VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS: A DESCRIPTIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Karasevska T.A., Dzhus M.B. , Mulyk K.S., Moskalenko Y.M.

• Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine

Summary. Vitamin D is known to have a direct effect on bone metabolism and maintenance of calcium-phosphate homeostasis, and its multiple pleiotropic effects have been described. Recently, many studies have focused on the role of vitamin D in the development and progression of autoimmune diseases. The aim of the study was to review the literature, assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with systemic sclerosis, and analyse the available data on risk factors for its development. Results. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed database using a combination of the key words «vitamin D» and «systemic sclerosis», «vitamin D» and «systemic scleroderma». Inclusion criteria were full-text articles, published in English and relevant to the purpose of our work. The first stage of the search identified 346 studies published in English. After a detailed analysis, 25 papers were included in the final review. Conclusions. According to the results of population-based studies, vitamin D deficiency in systemic sclerosis (SSc) ranges from 13.2% to 60%. According to the majority of studies, risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in systemic sclerosis include the degree of skin lesions according to the Rodnan scale, the presence of digital ulcers, the diffuse type of skin involvement, and the index of lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO). However, most studies have not found an association between the features of SSc and hypovitaminosis D. The reason for the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in SSc remains unclear. The optimal dose of vitamin D to overcome deficiency has not been established yet. Further research is needed to answer the questions that remain and to resolve the inconsistencies.