Tuberc Respir Dis.  2015 Jul;78(3):232-238. 10.4046/trd.2015.78.3.232.

Vitamin D Status in South Korean Military Personnel with Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia: A Pilot Study

• Jhun BW
• Kim SJ
• Kim K
• Lee JE
• Hong DJ

• KMID: 2320648
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2015.78.3.232

Abstract

BACKGROUND
A relationship between low vitamin D levels and the development or outcomes of respiratory diseases has been identified. However, there is no data on the vitamin D status in patients with acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP). We evaluated the vitamin D status in patients with AEP among South Korean military personnel.
METHODS
We prospectively compared the serum levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], 25(OH)D3, and 25(OH)D2 among patients with AEP, pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
RESULTS
In total, 65 patients with respiratory diseases, including AEP (n=24), PTB (n=19), and CAP (n=22), were identified. Of the 24 patients with AEP, 2 (8%) had deficient total 25(OH)D levels (<10 ng/mL), 17 (71%) had insufficient total 25(OH)D levels (> or =10 to <30 ng/mL), and only 5 (21%) had sufficient total 25(OH)D levels (> or =30 to <100 ng/mL). The difference in the total 25(OH)D levels among patients with AEP, PTB, and CAP was not statistically significant (p=0.230). The median levels of total 25(OH)D, 25(OH)D3, and 25(OH)D2 were 22.84, 22.84, and 0.00 ng/mL, respectively, and no differences in the 25(OH)D level were present among patients with AEP, PTB, and CAP with the exception of the total 25(OH)D level between patients with AEP and PTB (p=0.042).
CONCLUSION
We have shown that low vitamin D levels are frequently found in patients with AEP and are comparable with those in patients with PTB and CAP.

Keyword

Deficiency; Pulmonary Eosinophilia; Pneumonia; Vitamin D

MeSH Terms

Humans
Methods
Military Personnel*
Pilot Projects*
Pneumonia
Prospective Studies
Pulmonary Eosinophilia*
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
Vitamin D*
Vitamin D

Figure

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  Figure 1 Degree of serum total 25(OH)D levels among patients with acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP), pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

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  Figure 2 Comparisons of serum total 25(OH)D levels among patients with acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP), pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). NS: not significant.

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  Figure 3 Comparisons of serum 25(OH)D3 levels among patients with acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP), pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). NS: not significant.

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  Figure 4 Comparisons of serum 25(OH)D2 levels among patients with acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP), pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). NS: not significant.

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