investigating the levels of serum vitamin d in patients with rheumatoid arthritis referred to rasoul-akram hospital during 2011-2012

vitamin d3 has a role in many autoimmune diseases and appears to play a function in controlling rheumatoid arthritis (ra). the aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between serum level of vitamin d and ra disease activity score. the serum level of vitamin d in 75 ra patients referred to the rheumatology clinic of rasoul-akram hospital was measured. patients were classified into low, moderate and high ra activity groups based on the das-28 criteria (disease activity score in 28 joints) and the mean values of serum vitamin d were compared between the three groups. the mean serum levels of vitamin d in high activity group (17.057±7.7 mg/ml) was significantly less than moderate (30.5±11.3 mg/ml) and low (36.7±19.5 mg/ml) activity groups (p<0.001). the outcome of this study shows that serum level of vitamin d is inversely correlated with the activity of ra.