FRI0078 European Pilot Study on Vitamin D Serum Levels and Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Background Several studies have demonstrated low 25(OH)D3 serum levels, which could influence pathogenesis and clinical outcomes of immune-mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1,2). Objectives In order to investigate the necessity to implement specific vitamin D patient related outcomes we performed a pilot European multicentre study, involving individuals from different countries/latitudes, to explore 25(OH)D3 serum levels and their possible correlation with disease activity and related outcomes in RA patients during winter season. Methods We enrolled 270 RA patients (not treated with vitamin D supplementation) and 180 healthy subjects as controls (CNT), from Rheumatology centers in 10 European countries. RA patients mean disease duration was 10±9 years and mean age 56±10 years. Patients informed consent was obtained before collecting blood samples. Complete medical history, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), rheumatoid arthritis impact disease score (RAID), disease activity scale (DAS28) were recorded. 25(OH)D3 serum levels were evaluated centrally using chemiluminescence immunoassay with an automatic analyser (LIAISON, DiaSorin), and classified as normal (>30 ng/ml), insufficient (between 20 and 30 ng/ml) or deficient (