Vitamin D level in a sample of Iraqi patients with uveitis

Background Uveitis is the inflammation of the uveal tissues, including the ciliary body, iris, and choroid. Vitamin D has been associated with many ocular diseases including uveitis. Purpose The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the activity status of uveitis. Patients and methods This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2022 and April 2024 at the Uveitis Clinic, Ibn Al-Haitham Teaching Eye Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. Active uveitis was defined by the presence of flare and cells in the anterior chamber, vitritis, choroiditis, retinitis, or retinal vasculitis as determined through slit-lamp biomicroscopy and fundoscopy. Blood samples were collected and vitamin D levels were checked using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The study included 51 patients with a mean age of 38.16±14.4 years. The mean vitamin D level was 38.8±16.2 nmol/ml. The most common type of uveitis was pars planitis followed by tuberculosis. Patients with active disease had significantly lower vitamin D levels (26.45±9.56 nmol/ml) compared to those with inactive uveitis (55.09±4.22 nmol/ml), with a mean difference of 28.64 nmol/ml ( P <0.001). Regression analysis showed that no significant effects were found for any of the independent variables (sex, age, and cause of uveitis) on the dependent variable (active or inactive uveitis). Conclusions Vitamin D levels were strongly associated with uveitis activity, with lower levels linked to active disease.