Evaluation of Vitamin D Levels in Course of Acute Rheumatic Fever with Active Carditis

Objective: Vitamin D is a hormone with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects besides calcium hemostasis. The present study aims to evaluate the relationship between acute rheumatic fever (ARF) attacks and vitamin D levels. Materials and Methods: Acute phase reactants, vitamin D levels and echocardiographic parameters of 25 patients with active carditis were evaluated at the time of the acute attack and in 1, 2 and 6 months of follow-up and compared to a control group of 25 age-and sex-matched healthy children. Results: At the time of diagnosis, WBC, ESR and CRP levels were significantly higher (p