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Hypovitaminosis D linked to uveitis
Hypovitaminosis D was associated with higher risk of noninfectious uveitis, although causal relationship was not determined, according to a study.
The retrospective case control study involving 558 patients with uveitis matched with 2,790 control subjects found those with a normal vitamin D level had 21% lower odds of having noninfectious uveitis than did those with low vitamin D levels.
In the study group, patients who had a vitamin D level determined within 1 year preceding the date of their first uveitis diagnosis, the index date, were included. Control subjects were matched in a 5:1 ratio and underwent eye examination before the index date of their matched case; however, vitamin D level determinations were made up to 6 months after the index date of the matched case. Those with systemic disease or on medications known to decrease vitamin D levels were excluded in both groups.
A vitamin D level of 20 ng/mL or greater was determined to be adequate, while a lower level was considered deficient.
In addition to a link in the general studied population, a race-stratified analysis found black race to statistically significantly affect the association of low vitamin D levels and noninfectious uveitis (P = .004).
“This finding could indicate a stronger biological effect of vitamin D on uveitis in this race, or it might indicate limited power to detect a similar difference in the other racial/ethnic groups,” the study authors wrote.
Prospective studies are needed to further evaluate causality, the authors added.
“If causality were to be established, vitamin D supplementation would be an attractive potential adjunct intervention in the treatment of noninfectious uveitis,” they wrote. – by Rebecca L. Forand
Disclosure: Sobrin reports she is a consultant for Santen Pharmaceutical and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. See the study for a full list of authors’ disclosures.