Low vitamin D serum concentration is associated with high levels of hepatitis B virus replication in chronically infected patients

• DOI: 10.1002/hep.26488
• Publication Date: 2013-05-22T16:05:12Z
• Authors: Harald Farnik; Jörg Bojunga; Annemarie Berger; Regina Allwinn; Oliver Waidmann; Bernd Kronenberger; Oliver T. Keppler; Stefan Zeuzem; Christoph Sarrazin; Christian M. Lange
• Keywords: Replication

Vitamin D is an important immune modulator that plays emerging role in inflammatory and metabolic liver diseases, including infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). In contrast, the relationship between vitamin metabolism chronic B (CHB) less well characterized. Therefore, we quantified 25(OH)D3 serum levels a cohort of 203 treatment-naïve patients (HBV) tested for their association clinical parameters CHB. Of patients, 69 (34%), 95 (47%), 39 (19%) had severe deficiency (25(OH)D3 <10 ng/mL), insufficiency ≥10 <20 or adequate ≥20 respectively. both uni- multivariate analyses, HBV DNA viral load (log10 IU/mL) was strong predictor low ( P = 0.0007 0.000048, respectively) vice versa. Mean concentrations <2,000 versus ≥2,000 IU/mL were 17 11 ng/mL, respectively < 0.00001). addition, early antigen (HBeAg)-positive lower than HBeAg-negative 0.0013). Finally, showed inverse seasonal fluctuations. Conclusion : Low are associated high replication This represents major difference from C, where numerous previous studies have shown lack correlation HCV levels. Inverse fluctuations suggestive functional variables. (Hepatology 2013;58:1270–1276)