AB0170 Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated with Higher Disease Activity in Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

BackgroundVitamin D deficiency is common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and may be related to disease activity.Objectives1. To study the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and disease activity at RA onset. 2. To investigate possible influence of vitamin D supplementation on disease activity in early RA patients.MethodsWe studied 81 consecutive patients with new RA onset (71,6% women, mean age 60±14 years) admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Military Institute of Medicine in Warsaw. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment variables were collected. The patients were treated with methotrexate, low dose of glucocorticoids and supplemented with vitamin D. Disease activity was assessed every month during the first year of therapy using DAS28-ESR, DAS28-CRP, CDAI, SDAI indices. Serum 25-hydroxy- vitamin D (25(OH)D3) was measured at baseline, after 6 and 12 months. Ultrasound assessment of hand joints was performed by the same assesssor at baseline and after 12 months. We defined vitamin D serum concentration