Vitamin D Level in Iranian Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica

Neuromyelitis optica is one of the inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) that causes demyelination and axonal injury, especially in optic nerve and spinal cord. Considering the immunoregulatory function of vitamin D, deficiency of this vitamin may play a role in the pathogenesis as well as the severity of neuromylitis optica. The aim of this study was to compare the serum level of vitamin D in patients with neuromylitis optica and control group, and to investigate the relationship between the level of this vitamin and disability and number of attacks during the year in these patients.

In this cross-sectional study, 40 patients with neuromylitis optica and 40 healthy individuals as a control group participated. Serum level of 25 (OH) vitamin D was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HLPC) method and compared. Clinical parameters such as Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Annualized Relapse Rate (ARR) were also evaluated in patients.

The median of serum levels of vitamin D was higher in patients (46.2 ng/ml) than in controls (29.65 ng/ml) (P < 0.001). The prevalence of Vitamin D insufficiency in the control group (52.5%) was higher than this prevalence in patients (5.0%). Moreover, there was no significant relationship between serum vitamin D levels with body mass index (BMI), EDSS, and ARR in patients.

According to our findings, there was no significant association between vitamin D deficiency and neuromylitis optica disease.