Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) is a useful tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its utility was limited in patients taking vitamin K antagonists. We evaluated the newly developed method to measure serum DCP, (NX-DCP ratio) for its ability to identify DCP elevation induced by HCC in this patient subpopulation. Conventional ...

Background:  Previous studies have shown increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome in psoriasis patients. Objectives:  To characterise the anthropometric and metabolic profile of Spanish patients with moderate to severe psoriasis compared to controls without psoriasis matched for gender, age and body mass index, and evaluate the impact of narrow-band ultraviolet B ...

Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) have impaired mobility and therefore get less sunlight exposure, we postulated that they may be at increased risk of developing osteoporosis (OP). The aim of this study was to assess and compare serum vitamin D level and bone mineral density (BMD) value in patients with ...

AIMS: Vitamin D deficiency is a highly prevalent, global phenomenon. The prevalence in heart failure (HF) patients and its effect on outcome are less clear. We evaluated vitamin D levels and vitamin D supplementation in patients with HF and its effect on mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels ...

INTRODUCTION: The immunoregulatory role of vitamin D has been the object of a growing number of studies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). OBJECTIVES: To determine the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH) D] in patients with SLE, and to assess the association of 25(OH)D insufficiency/deficiency with clinical parameters ...

BACKGROUND: Vitamin K supplementation improves bone health, and its absence might be associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). The authors aim to assess vitamin K supplementation practices in Canadian home parenteral nutrition (HPN) programs and their relationship with BMD. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 189 patients from ...

OBJECTIVE: Identify the etiology of elevated B(12) in autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS). DESIGN: Peripheral blood of ALPS patients with elevated B(12) and controls were evaluated. RESULTS: Total and holo-haptocorrin (HC) levels were 26- and 23-fold higher in ALPS patients, respectively. No abnormal B(12)-binding proteins were found. Western blot revealed HC ...

Some reports have emerged describing the occurrence of Guillain-Barré syndrome and polyneuropathy related to vitamin B(12) deficiency in some patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) treated with continuous duodenal levodopa infusion. We describe five PD patients who developed axonal polyneuropathy and vitamin B(12) deficiency while on treatment with duodenal levodopa infusion, ...

Background: Vitamin D (vitD) insufficiency is common in end-stage renal disease. Seasonal and ethnic differences in vitD status have been reported previously. We hypothesized that vitD status in Afro-Caribbean patients on hemodialysis (HD) living in a country with a constant sunny climate would be better than that in African-American HD ...

Vitamin D plays role in bone health and the regulation of the immune system. A cross-sectional study of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels was conducted among HIV-1-infected Thai patients to determine the prevalence and associated factors of low vitamin D levels (25[OH]D <30 ng/mL) in tropical setting. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D was ...

The purpose of this study was to document vitamin D status in home parenteral nutrition (HPN) patients and determine if oral vitamin D supplementation has a substantial effect. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of eligible adults enrolled in the Southern Alberta Home Parenteral Nutrition program (n = 15) for a ...

Background.  The relation between low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and nonspecific musculoskeletal pain, including fibromyalgia syndrome, is debatable. Many studies have reported "a positive relation" and others "found no relation." Objectives.  To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among patients with fibromyalgia in a neurology clinic in the Kingdom ...

Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are monitored with prothrombin time (PT) based assays that are equally sensitive to reductions in factors II, VII or X. We compared the effect of vitamin K dependent (VKD) coagulation factors on PT and also on rotational thromboelastometric (ROTEM) parameters. The PT was equally sensitive to ...

To describe a patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) who developed severe hypercalcemia, attributed to the additive effect of 5500 IU of cholecalciferol and 2020 mg of calcium daily. Case report. University hospital. Patient  A 58-year-old woman with MS and osteoporosis presenting with acute-onset tremors and confusion. Serum calcium and 25-hydroxyvitamin ...

BACKGROUND: The incidence of vitamin D deficiency in critically ill patients is reported to be up to 50%, with a 3-fold increase in predicted mortality, but limited data exist concerning vitamin D deficiency in critically ill surgical patients. METHODS: Sixty-six adult surgical intensive care unit patients who had 25-hydroxyvitamin D ...

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive, inherited autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent, self-limited attacks of fever and inflammation of serosal surfaces. There is an explosion of the data regarding inflammatory markers in FMF and clinical effects of chronic inflammation on the disease presentation. Vitamin D (vit D) is ...

Familial mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the FMF gene (MEFV). The gene causing FMF, designated MEFV, encodes a protein called pyrin or marenostrin that is expressed mainly in myeloid bone marrow precursors, neutrophils, and monocytes. Since there are several etiological factors, FMF is ...

Abnormal vitamin K status was documented in patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD), especially those undergoing hemodialysis. The data related to patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) are contradictory. Therefore, in the present study we aimed to evaluate vitamin K status in patients with CKD who are treated with continuous ambulatory ...

Aim  Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in end-stage renal disease and has been associated with atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy. Although activated vitamin D has shown to be cardioprotective, the cardiovascular benefits of nutritional vitamin D (i.e. ergocalciferol or cholecalciferol) has not been explored in the dialysis ...

Object Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most serious bleeding complication of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy, carrying a high mortality. Rapid reversal of VKA in ICH is critical. Plasma therapy, the standard of care in the US, is not optimal. The ideal prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) containing all vitamin K-dependent ...

Background: Hypocalcemia is a rarely recognized complication of (131)I therapy that has been previously reported in only one child with Graves' disease treated with radioiodine (RAI). Here we report a second child with this occurrence. Patient Findings: A 12-year-old African American girl with hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease and moderate ...

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are especially prone to vitamin D insufficiency. Narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) treatment increases serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in dermatological patients, and we studied whether it also improves vitamin D balance in CKD patients on haemodialysis.METHODS: Fifteen dialysis patients (mean age 48.3 years) and 12 ...

BACKGROUND: Vascular calcification is a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Hemodialysis patients experience severe vascular calcifications. Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a central calcification inhibitor of the arterial wall; its activity depends on vitamin K-dependent γ-glutamate carboxylation. Uncarboxylated MGP, formed as a result of vitamin K deficiency, is associated ...

We aimed to determine the effect of a monthly oral vitamin D on the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and iPTH levels in patients with CKD. This was a prospective controlled trial of 48 patients with CKD stage 3-4. Patients were divided into two groups Group1 the cholecalciferol treatment group, Group ...

Aims:  The aim of the present study was to investigate hyperhomocysteinemia in Tunisian bipolar I patients according to 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism. Methods:  The subjects consisted of 92 patients with bipolar I disorder diagnosed according to DSM-IV, and 170 controls. Plasma total homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 were measured. ...

Aims: We report two cases of patients with end stage primary sclerosing cholangitis and intractable pruritus. Rifampicin was used as a second line agent for symptom control. Both patients developed severe coagulopathy with prothrombin time prolongation. Methods: Serum liver function tests were performed to rule out toxic hepatitis secondary to ...

Objective. To determine the relationship between serum vitamin D and markers of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with SLE.Methods. We recruited SLE patients (≥4 ACR 1997 criteria) from outpatient clinics between January 2007 and January 2009. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25(OH)D <20 ng/ml measured by ELISA. Disease ...

RATIONALE: Low blood levels of 25-hyroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) have been associated with a higher risk of respiratory infections in general populations and higher risk of exacerbations of lung disease in asthmatics. We hypothesized that low blood levels of 25(OH)D in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) would be associated ...

Objective: The biochemical diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism (1○HPT) has traditionally been based on elevated calcium and PTH values. These classic criteria fail to diagnose the subset of patients where calcium, PTH or both lie within the "normal" range. The purpose of this study was to refine diagnostic criteria for 1○HPT ...

Background, objective:  An international consensus conference underlined the importance of defining upper parathyroid hormone (PTH) reference values based on 25-OH-Vitamin D (25(OH)D), to diagnose mild primary hyperparathyroidism. We determined the importance of this factor in a Belgian population. Design, patients, methods:  Intact PTH and 25(OH)D were measured in 261 healthy ...

Objectives: To identify relationships between vitamin D serum levels and the presence of autoantibodies directed against vitamin D and levels of interleukin(IL)-17 and IL-23 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: The study included 49 patients with SLE. Serum concentrations of 25(OH)D(3) were measured with electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). Enzyme-linked ...

OBJECTIVE:To ascertain the prevalence and determinants of neuropathy in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), in particular, the roles of vitamin B(12) and levodopa exposure. METHODS:We performed a cross-sectional study of 37 patients with PD and 37 age- and gender-matched controls, using a sensitive and validated neuropathy scale. The prevalence of ...

Harrington AL, Dixon TM, Ho CH. Vitamin B(12) deficiency as a cause of delirium in a patient with spinal cord injury. A man with spinal cord injury (SCI) and multiple medical comorbidities had new-onset delirium during his 14th month of hospitalization. Diagnostic workup did not elicit an obvious etiology for ...

Background Vitamin D deficiency is commonly seen in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. However, there is a widespread reluctance to provide vitamin D supplementation to this group of patients. Objective This article examines the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and primary hyperparathyroidism and the effects of vitamin D supplementation. Conclusion Vitamin ...

Although vitamin D insufficiency is related to inferior prognosis in some cancers, limited data exist in hematologic malignancies. We evaluated the relationship between 25(OH)D serum levels and time to first treatment (TFT), a disease-specific end point, in 130 previously untreated Binet stage A chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Measurement of ...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and metabolic abnormalities of patients with inadequate vitamin D (VD) presenting with urolithiasis to a tertiary stone clinic in North America. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive patients presenting from August 2009 to January 2010 was performed. Demographic and clinical data were collected ...

Aim:  To evaluate the compassionate use of cinacalcet for the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients who are not on dialysis. Methods:  We prospectively included patients with stage 4-5 CKD who were not on dialysis, had an iPTH level greater than 300 pg/ml, and had not responded satisfactorily to treatment ...

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular (CV) events are common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) but inadequately explained by traditional risk factors. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in CKD and has been proposed to be a non-traditional risk factor, but its relationship with vascular function is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: The ...

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) contributes to tissue repair by promoting tissue fibrosis, and elevations have been reported in patients with bone marrow fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between TGF-β1 levels and vitamin D deficiency. All patients presenting to the outpatient Endocrinology and Metabolic ...

Aim:  To evaluate the compassionate use of cinacalcet for the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients who are not on dialysis. Methods:  We prospectively included patients with stage 4-5 CKD who were not on dialysis, had an iPTH level greater than 300 pg/ml, and had not responded satisfactorily to treatment ...

Background:  Vitamin D could have important immuno-modulatory effects in psoriasis. Objective:  Measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium serum levels in patients with psoriasis and the associations with some relevant clinical features. Methods:  A cross-sectional study conducted over 1 year including 145 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis, 112 ...

BACKGROUND: There is conflicting evidence regarding the association of vitamin D status with bone mineral density (BMD) in adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We evaluated cross-sectionaly the determinants (including vitamin D levels) of low BMD in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). METHODS: The BMD at lumbar level (L2-L4) and ...

We evaluated important nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors, endothelial function and oxidative stress (OS) among stable peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Their association with carotid intimal medial thickness (CIMT) was also assessed. Thirty-eight adult patients (13 diabetics, 20 males) on PD for >6 months and 15 age and sex-matched controls were studied. ...

Objective. Vitamin D insufficiency appears to be a pandemic problem and is more common in inhabitants of high latitude compared to low latitude areas. We aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), its seasonal and geographic variation, and the possible association with ...

To describe 2 unusual cases of hypercalcemia due to granulomatous diseases with normal vitamin D metabolites and no other ready explanation for the hypercalcemia. We present the clinical, laboratory and pathologic findings of 2 patients with hypercalcemia and review previous reports of hypercalcemia in granulomatous diseases without elevated vitamin D ...

AbstractBackground. Vitamin D deficiency in noncancer patients is associated with symptoms of fatigue, muscle weakness, and depression. These symptoms are common among advanced cancer patients. We investigated the prevalence of low serum vitamin D levels in cancer patients with fatigue or poor appetite and their association with symptom burden and ...

In the last years, the number of hemodialysis (HD) patients with erythropoietin (rHuEPO) resistance is increasing. Probably, central venous catheters (CVCs) contribute to this resistance by inducing inflammation and oxidative stress. This study was aimed to compare vitamin E-bonded dialyzer (PSVE) versus polyethersulfone membrane. Sixteen subjects with CVCs were included ...

In this case-control study, our first aim was to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) in women with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and its correlates. Secondarily, we aimed to evaluate 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 status and its relationships with disease parameters and BMD. Sixty patients with SSc and 60 age-and gender-matched controls were ...

Increased levels of homocysteine are found systemically and in intestinal mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and, specifically, in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, there are controversial reports regarding the factors contributing to increased levels of homocysteine in UC. Furthermore, little information is available regarding the relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), ...

BACKGROUND: The recommended target range for serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) in dialysis patients has changed from 150 to 300 pg/mL in the KDOQI guidelines to two to nine times the upper normal limit in the KDIGO ones. Although inclusion/exclusion criteria for the reference population are highly important, they are usually ...