Brief communication: Vitamin D serum levels in American tegumentary leishmaniasis from an endemic area in Northeast Brazil

• Published in: The Brazilian journal of infectious diseases Vol. 27; no. 1; p. 102720
• Main Authors: Figueiredo, Lorena Pinheiro, Cerqueira-Silva, Thiago, Magalhães, Andréa, Lago, Ednaldo Lima, Lessa, Marcus Miranda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Elsevier España, S.L.U 01.01.2023; Contexto; Elsevier; Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Alfacalcidol; Brazil - epidemiology; Brief Communication; Calcifediol; Communication; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Development and progression; Health aspects; Humans; Immune response; INFECTIOUS DISEASES; Leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - epidemiology; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - pathology; Measurement; Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis; Risk factors; United States; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Brazil; United States; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis; Vitamin D
• ISSN: 1413-8670; 1678-4391; 1678-4391
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2022.102720

The pathogenesis of cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis is associated with different immune responses. Vitamin D may modulate the immune system. Here we evaluate the association of vitamin D levels with the severity of the clinical forms of cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis. We conducted an observational study evaluating the association between vitamin D levels, disease severity and therapeutic response in patients with cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis. Additionally, we conducted a cross-sectional study to compare vitamin D levels in patients with leishmaniasis and healthy subjects. Hypovitaminosis D was defined as a serum level of 25 (OH) D < 30 ng/mL. In patients with leishmaniasis, vitamin D serum levels were 38.5 ± 11.54 ng/mL, and 37.5 ± 10.43 ng/mL in healthy subjects The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 23.3% and 20.0%, respectively (p = 0.72). There was no correlation between vitamin D serum levels, disease severity, and healing time in the mucosal leishmaniasis group. Vitamin D levels are not associated with neither susceptibility nor severity of tegumentary leishmaniasis.