Vitamin D levels in asthmatic patients with and without allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is believed to a pathogenetic factor in patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and cystic fibrosis. Whether vitamin D deficiency is also prevalent in ABPA complicating asthma, remains unknown. Herein, we evaluate vitamin D levels in asthmatic patients with and without ABPA.

In a prospective study, plasma vitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were measured in consecutive subjects with asthma (n=75), ABPA (n=158) and healthy volunteers (n=50). Vitamin D levels <20 ng/mL were considered as vitamin D deficiency.

There was no difference in mean (95% CI) vitamin D levels between healthy controls (15.3 [12.7-17.9]), asthmatics (19.2 [16.3-22.1]) and subjects with ABPA (18.9 [16.9-20.8]) (p=0.22). Vitamin D deficiency was encountered in 70%, 64% and 65% of the healthy controls, asthmatics and ABPA subjects, respectively, and was not different between the groups (p=0.79). There was no difference in the asthma control, pulmonary function, immunological findings and the severity of bronchiectasis, in patients with ABPA, with and without vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiency is equally prevalent in asthmatic patients with or without ABPA in the Indian subcontinent, and does not appear to play a major role in the pathogenesis of ABPA complicating asthma.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.