Vitamin D status of Behcet’s patients. Analysis of correlation with activity and severity of the disease as well as with the quality of life of patients

Background: Vitamin D defiiency may increase the risk of various autoimmune diseases. But few studies focused on its role in Behcet syndrome. Objectives: The aims of our study were to assess the vitamin D status of Behcet patients and to analyze the correlation of this status with the activity and the severity of the disease as well as the quality of life of patients. Patients and methods: The vitamin D status was assessed in 40 patients with Behcet syndrome (average age: 37.5 years, sex ratio: 1.85) in comparison with 40 healthy control subjects matched by age, sex and by season of assessment. A correlation study was realized between vit D levels and duration of disease progression, its activity, its severity as well as the quality of life of patients. Results: The average rate of vit D was 14.64 ng/ml (3-44.29 ng/ml). 94.6% of them had hypovitaminose D. Vit D defiiency has been attested in 35.1% and insuffiiency in 59.5% of the cases. There was no signifiant difference between rates of vit D in Behcet patients and those of healthy controls. There was also no signifiant association between vit D levels in Behcet patients and duration of disease progression, activity and severity as well as their quality of life. Conclusion: we made the evidence of hypovitaminose D in Behcet patients. Even if its role in the determination of Behcet syndrome is not obvious, this track remains to be explored.