RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Serum level of vitamin D3 before and after treatment in pulmonary tuberculosis JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP P2573 VO 40 IS Suppl 56 A1 Cho, Young-Jae A1 Lim, Hyo-Jeong A1 Park, Jong Sun A1 Yoon, Ho Il A1 Lee, Choon-Taek A1 Song, Junghan A1 Lee, Jae Ho YR 2012 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P2573.abstract AB Vitamin D3 is known to have potent immunomodulatory effect and it has been suggested that the low serum level of vitamin D3 increases the risk of tuberculosis.Serum levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 (25HD3) were measured in 168 drug sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) before and about 6 months after the treatment by using high performance liquid chromatography, and were compared with those of 197 healthy normal controls (HNC). Deficiency of vitamin D was defined by the serum level below 15 ng/mL of 25HD3. The sputum AFB smear grade was quantified from 1 to 4 according to ATS criteria. Heavy AFB smear was defined as 3 and 4 grades.The mean level of 25HD3 in PTB before treatment was significantly low compared with HNC (18.7 ± 8.33 vs. 13.13 ± 8.6 pg/mL, p< 0.05). The mean level of 25HD3 in PTB after treatment was also significantly low compared with HNC, but did not show difference compared with the level before treatment. The numbers of vitamin D deficiency before treatment were significantly higher in the PTB compared with HNC, and the numbers did not show significant change after treatment. The numbers of heavy AFB smear were also significantly higher in the vitamin D deficiency patients in the PTB (p< 0.05).These results strongly suggest that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of tuberculosis, and is related with more severe form of PTB.