VITAMIN D STATUS IN EGYPTIAN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DISEASE ACTIVITY AND SEVERITY.

: Background: Many studies proved high percentage of vitamin D deficiency in psoriatic arthritis patients. Different records about the possible link between vitamin D deficiency and state of inflammatory & disease activity in psoriatic arthritis patients) Aim of the work: To evaluate the vitamin D level in Egyptian patients with psoriatic arthritis and its association with activity of the disease as well as disease severity Patients & Method: 45 Psoriatic Arthritis Patients fulfilled the Classification Criteria for the diagnosis of Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR ) and 50 healthy controls were included. Medical history was taken, general and musculoskeletal examination were done. Disease activity was assessed using the Disease activity in psoriatic arthritis "DAPSA" score . VAS, HAQ, ESR & CRP were done. Serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D was measured by ELISA for patients and controls. Results: Serum vitamin D level in psoriatic arthritis patients ranged from 10-48 ng/mL, with mean ±SD 32.844±12.395. While in healthy controls it ranged from15-50 ng/mL with mean ±SD33.940±8.998, without statistical significant difference. Vitamin D deficiency was detected in 12 patients (26.6%) and 5 (10%) healthy participants with statistically significant higher frequency of vitamin D deficiency in patients than controls (P-value <0.034). patients with vitamin D deficiency showed statistically significant longer disease duration, higher VAS, HAQ score, ESR, CRP titer and DAPSA score (P-value <0.001). Also, they had statistically significant higher frequency of axial affection (P-value <0.001). Vitamin D level was statistically negatively correlated with disease duration, VAS, HAQ, ESR, CRP and DAPSA