Affiliation:
1. Universite Saint-Joseph Faculte de medecine
2. Université Saint-Joseph Faculté de médecine: Universite Saint-Joseph Faculte de medecine
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Low vitamin D level is common in patients with systemic sclerosis since synthesis comprises cutaneous, gastrointestinal, hepatic, and renal steps. Oral supplementation brought less than a third of patients to a normal level. No study has yet reported effective alternatives.
Aims
The objective was to assess the response to intramuscular vitamin D in patients not responding to oral supplementation.
Methods
A retrospective series included patients, with systemic sclerosis and a history of subclinical poor vitamin D status that was resistant to at least 6 months of oral supplementation, to whom intramuscular vitamin D2 was administered. File data were collected for disease characteristics, vitamin D2 posology, and 25(OH)D serum levels.
Results
Twelve patients were identified, with a mean age of 51.9 years. All were women. Five had diffuse systemic sclerosisand seven had localized systemic sclerosis. The mean duration of the disease was 17.9 years, with a mean modified Rodnan skin score of 14. All patients were twice injected, at a 15-day interval, 300,000 IU of ergocalciferol into the anterior gluteus muscle. The mean serum level of 25(OH)D increased from 12.9 ng/mL before the first injection, to 23 ng/mL two weeks after the first injection, and 37.1 ng/mL four weeks after the second injection. No side effects were observed.
Conclusions
It is the first report of safely normalizing vitamin D levels with intramuscular ergocalciferol in patients with a connective tissue disease and a low vitamin D level refractory to oral supplementation.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC