Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Procalcitonin as Prognostic Biomarker in Patients with Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Complicated with Vitamin D Deficiency

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common and serious problem that develops after more than 48 h of mechanical ventilation. Improving the activity of immune system with vitamin D, and its consequent impact on prognostic biomarkers of VAP was studied in the current study. A randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical trial was designed. A total of 46 patients with VAP, who were suffering from vitamin D deficiency, were randomly allocated into the study groups of placebo (n=22) and treatment (n=24) The treatment group received 300,000 units of intramuscular vitamin D. Serum levels of procalcitonin and vitamin D along with SOFA and CPIS scores were determined at baseline and on day 7 after intervention. The mortality rate of patients was also monitored for the succeeding 28 days after the injection. The administration of vitamin D significantly enhanced its levels (P