Connective Tissue Diseases and Vitamin D Deficiency

Summary

Connective tissue disease (CTD) covers all heterogeneous and broad immunological diseases. These immunological diseases are characterized by inflammation, tissue damage, and abnormal repair. Disorders such as fibrotic tissue or loss of function are seen in the degeneration of the target organ. There is a complex relationship between genetic and environmental factors on the basis of these disorders.

Vitamin D deficiency has been frequently observed in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin D deficiency is primarily seen with musculoskeletal complaints and is an early warning of osteomalacia. Muscle weakness is most common in the trunk, shoulders and hips. It is characterized by difficulty in climbing stairs, getting up from sitting or lying position, feeling of heaviness in the legs, duck-like gait, difficulty getting up from a chair, fatigue easily, inability to lift objects with arms and hands. Patients experience decreased exercise capacity as a result of pain and muscle weakness. In addition, vitamin D deficiency causes smooth muscle contraction and an increase in airway inflammation. As a result, it was observed that the disease course and symptoms were more severe in CVD patients with vitamin D deficiency. In a study conducted with rheumatoid arthritis patients, the quality of life, physical activity and depression levels of patients with vitamin D deficiency were compared with the control group. The evaluation parameters of rheumatoid arthritis patients were worse than the control group. Vitamin D levels were compared with sleep, anxiety and depression levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. A positive relationship was found between vitamin D deficiency and sleep disturbance level. It has been observed that the life expectancy of patients with connective tissue disease is significantly reduced compared to healthy ones. Exercise capacity and oxygen consumption decreased in these patients.

Conditions

• Connective Tissue Diseases

Interventions

OTHER

Systemic lupus erythematosus group

Demographic information of systemic lupus erythematosus who accepted to participate in the study will be obtained, and respiratory and peripheral muscle strength and exercise capacity of the patients will be evaluated with a 6-minute walking test. Patients will be asked to complete the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the numerical pain questionnaire, the Short Form-36, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire. In addition, Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale will be applied by the interviewer.

OTHER

Systemic sclerosis group

Demographic information of Systemic sclerosis who accepted to participate in the study will be obtained, and respiratory and peripheral muscle strength and exercise capacity of the patients will be evaluated with a 6-minute walking test. Patients will be asked to complete the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the numerical pain questionnaire, the Short Form-36, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire. In addition, Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale will be applied by the interviewer.

OTHER

Healthy control group

Healthy individuals with no chronic diseases who agreed to participate in the study and gave their consent will be included in the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Gazi University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Deran OSKAY, Prof · Gazi University

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-10-01

Primary Completion

2021-12-01

Completion

2022-07-01

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations