Skip to main content
Download PDF

Hypovitaminosis D: a novel finding in primary ciliary dyskinesia

Italian Journal of Pediatrics volume 41, Article number: 14 (2015) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

A relationship between low levels of serum vitamin D and respiratory infections has been established. No study has examined the frequency and clinical relevance of vitamin D deficiency in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).

Methods

Vitamin D levels were measured in 22 PCD patients (7 females, 10.5 years, range, 2–34 years). In PCD, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), sputum microbiology, self-reported physical activity (PA) level, and quality of life (QoL) by means of the Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), were also assessed.

Results

Seventy-two percent of PCD patients were vitamin-D deficient-to-insufficient and 28% were sufficient. No differences in PFTs parameters were found between vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency and sufficiency groups. Patients with vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency had significantly higher SGRQ total scores, and thus poorer QoL (p = 0.03). Seventy-nine percent of PCD subjects had limitations in performing vigorous activities, and 53% performed less than 3 hours of PA per week. Vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency and sufficiency groups did not show any differences in age at PCD diagnosis or at onset of respiratory symptoms, BMI, atopy, current asthma or bronchiectasis. However, 79% of patients with bronchiectasis had vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency. No differences were found in the rate of positive sputum cultures and in the number of antibiotic courses between the two groups.

Conclusions

Hypovitaminosis D is common in PCD patients, and is associated with poorer QoL. We recommend the assessment and treatment of hypovitaminosis D to be included in the routine management of PCD.

Introduction

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a genetic disorder of cilia function and ultrastructure with situs viscerum inversus occurring in 50% of patients, is characterized by impaired mucociliary clearance and recurrent-to-chronic respiratory infections [1]. Early presenting symptoms include neonatal respiratory distress and upper airway disease. Lower airways are commonly involved in PCD, and recurrent pneumonia, chronic asthma-like symptoms, and bronchiectasis are the hallmarks of the disease [2]. As a consequence, pulmonary function becomes progressively impaired and respiratory failure may eventually occur [3,4].

Although vitamin D plays a major role in bone health, recent evidence suggests that low levels may contribute to several chronic diseases [5,6]. A number of studies indicate that individuals with lower vitamin D are at higher risk of respiratory infections [7-10]. Vitamin D deficiency is common also in adults with non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis, a condition characterized by a vicious circle of airway inflammation and infection [11].

In PCD, failure of mucus clearance system due to defective ciliary function results in reduced airway defense against bacteria [1]. To our knowledge, the links between vitamin D and PCD lung disease have never been investigated. We hypothesize that, likewise other chronic respiratory disorders, patients with PCD may have hypovitaminosis D. Therefore, we measured the total circulating levels of 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol [25(OH)D] in children, adolescents and adults with stable PCD lung disease. Moreover, we explored whether 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with pulmonary function parameters, sputum culture, patients’ quality of life (QoL), and self-reported physical activity (PA) level.

Methods

Patient population

We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional study of 22 consecutive PCD subjects (median age, 10.5 years; range, 2–34 years; 7 adults; 7 females) attending the Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy, the reference center for PCD in Campania, Southern Italy. Patients lived in Naples metropolitan area (latitude, 40° 49’ N; elevation, 17 m) and were evaluated from March through June 2012. Diagnosis of PCD was made at a median age of 5.9 years (range, 0.1-27) and was based on the demonstration of abnormal motility and ultrastructural defects of cilia. Eighty-two percent of patients (18/22) had situs viscerum inversus, nobody had heterotaxy. Table 1 summarizes the characteristics of the study population. Thirty-two percent of cases had atopy that was diagnosed on the basis of the results of skin prick tests. Current asthma occurred in 36% of patients, as assessed by standardized questionnaires [12,13]. Sixty-four percent of cases (14/22) had bronchiectasis at chest high resolution computed tomography performed in stable conditions at least in the previous 6 months for assessing disease severity at some time point during follow-up. Inclusion criteria were a confirmed diagnosis of PCD, and PCD lung disease stability was defined as previously reported [14]. Exclusion criteria were: airway infections or asthma exacerbations during the 4 weeks prior to enrollment; current smoking; long term use of oral steroids at any dose; antibiotic treatment in the last 4 weeks before enrollment; prescription of over-the-counter calcium or vitamin-D supplements prior to, or during the study period. None of the subjects had any neoplastic, metabolic, hepatic, and cardiovascular or other concurrent medical disorders (i.e., renal or malabsorptive diseases). All participants reported neither being current smokers nor having been exposed to smoke in the previous 4 weeks.

Table 1 Characteristics of patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (n = 22)
Full size table

On the study day, in the morning, patients underwent serum vitamin D levels measurement, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), deep throat or sputum culture, and completed health-related QoL and self-reported PA questionnaires. The procedures were in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration guidelines on human experimentation. The study was conducted without any support from the pharmaceutical industry, after approval by the local institutional review board. Subjects or their legal guardians gave informed written consent after extensive information about the study procedures.

Vitamin D measurement

A single determination of vitamin D levels, measured as total 25(OH)D, was performed on blood samples obtained between 08:00 a.m. and 09:00 a.m. after overnight fast, using the chemiluminescent method (Liasion, DiaSorin, Saluggia, Italy) [15]. Vitamin D levels were categorized as being sufficient when >30 ng/ml (>75 nmol/L), insufficient between 20 and 30 ng/ml (50 and 75 nmol/L), and deficient when <20 ng/ml (<50 nmol/L) [6].

Pulmonary function testing

Cooperating PCD subjects underwent PFTs (MasterScreen®Body, VIASYS Healthcare GmbH, Wuerzburg, Germany). Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF25–75), functional residual capacity (FRC), and residual volume (RV) were expressed as % of predicted, while FEV1/FVC ratio was expressed as % [16].

Quality of life and self-reported physical activity assessment

In order to assess health-related QoL, 19/22 patients with PCD (86%) aged ≥6 years completed the St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ; 17), a disease-specific measure developed for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that has been validated also in children and adults with PCD [18,19]. SGRQ score ranges from 0 to 100 (100 indicating the maximum impairment). The youngest children were helped by their parents in answering the SGRQ questions. We also administered a previously published questionnaire to the same 19 patients for assessing their self-reported PA [20].

Microbiological evaluation

Based on cultures results, we defined chronic bacterial colonization as persistence of specific bacteria for at least 6 months, with at least 3 positive cultures [4]. For each subject we also recorded the number of antibiotic courses performed in the past 12 months. All investigators were blinded to the other results.

Statistical analysis

Data are presented as median and range. Mann–Whitney U test and Fisher’s test assessed comparisons among variables. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data were analyzed with a statistical software package (SPSS-PC, version 13.0; SPSS; Chicago, IL).

Results

Median serum 25(OH)D levels in PCD were 25 ng/mL (4.8-49). Seventy-two percent of patients had vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency, with 4/22 cases (18%) exhibiting 25(OH)D levels <20 ng/ml and 12/22 patients (54%) having 20–30 ng/ml, while 6/22 cases (28%) had >30 ng/ml. Figure 1 illustrates the serum 25(OH)D levels in PCD patients with vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency and sufficiency.

Figure 1
figure 1

Serum 25(OH)D levels in PCD patients with vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency and sufficiency.

Full size image

Twelve cooperative PCD subjects underwent PFTs. Median FVC, FEV1, and FEF25–75 were 97% (58–134), 86% (40–111), and 49% (16–100) predicted, respectively, while the FEV1/FVC ratio was 73% (58–85). Median FRC and RV were 87% (46–173) and 74% (18–275) predicted, respectively. No significant differences in PFTs were found between vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency and vitamin D sufficiency groups (p >0.05).

Total SGRQ score was 19 (9–65). PCD patients with vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency had significantly higher total scores at SGRQ (20 versus 17, p = 0.03) than those with vitamin D sufficiency. In the responses to the questions on PA, 10% of patients reported being moderately-to-highly limited, 26% slightly limited, and 63% not limited at all by respiratory symptoms in everyday-life activities. Fifty-two percent of cases reported moderate-to-severe limitations in performing vigorous activities, while 26% had only slight difficulties, and 21% denied any difficulty at all. Fifty-three percent of patients performed less than 3 hours of physical training every week, while only 5% spent more than 7 hours. Respiratory symptoms limited everyday-life activities at least slightly in 38% and 33% of patients with vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency or sufficiency, respectively (p = 1). Vigorous activity appeared at least slightly limited in 77% and 83% of the cases with vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency or sufficiency, respectively (p = 1). Fifty-four percent of subjects with vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency and 33% of patients with sufficiency reported performing > 2 hours per week of physical training (p = 0.6).

Vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency and sufficiency groups did not show any significant differences in BMI (19 versus 17 Kg/m2, p = 0.7) and in the ages at PCD diagnosis (8.3 versus 2.3 years, p = 0.4) or at the onset of respiratory symptoms (13.5 versus 6.8 years, p = 0.7). No significant difference was found in vitamin D levels from atopic and non atopic patients (21.9 versus 27.9 ng/ml, p = 0.5), from asthmatic and non asthmatic subjects (24.2 versus 26.3 ng/ml, p = 0.4), or from patients with or without bronchiectasis (24.5 versus 30.4 ng/ml, p = 0.6). Within the bronchiectasis group, 11 out of 14 cases (79%) had vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency and 3 patients (21%) had vitamin D sufficiency, while among the 8 cases with no bronchiectasis 5 (62%) had vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency and 3 (38%) had vitamin D sufficiency (p = 0.6).

Deep throat or sputum cultures were negative in 13/22 subjects (59%). The most frequently isolated pathogens were Haemophilus influenzae (27%), Staphylococcus aureus (14%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (9%), Klebsiella spp (9%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4%). No significant difference in the rate of positive cultures was found between the vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency and the sufficiency groups (68% versus 50%, p = 0.6). Only 2 patients with vitamin D insufficiency met the criteria for chronic colonization by Haemophilus influenzae. No patients were chronically colonized by P. aeruginosa.

During the 12 months preceding the study, patients had undergone a median of 4 antibiotic courses (range, 0–7), but no difference was found between vitamin D deficient-to-insufficient and sufficient subjects (3.5 versus 4 courses, p = 0.9).

Discussion

To our knowledge, vitamin D status has never been investigated in PCD. In this pilot, cross-sectional study, only 28% of PCD patients living at a latitude of 40°52’ N had sufficient 25(OH)D serum levels during spring. Our findings show that more than two thirds of PCD children have hypovitaminosis D, which is associated with worse quality of life. However, we could not find any significant relation between PCD-associated vitamin D status and pulmonary function, sputum microbiology, past exacerbations, atopy, or current asthma.

In addition to latitude and season, factors affecting vitamin D status include skin pigmentation, sun-related behavior, obesity, vitamin D dietary intake and outdoor/indoor activities, or also reduced ultraviolet B (UVB) radiations due to atmospheric pollution [5,6,21-23]. Our study was not designed to investigate the reasons for low levels of serum vitamin D. However, in our population BMI excluded obesity, but self reported PA indicated that patients were quite sedentary. A high proportion of cases (79%) had limitations in performing vigorous activities, and approximately 50% spent less than 3 hours per week doing PA, thus suggesting that PCD likely makes patients inactive [20,24].

PCD leads to chronic respiratory symptoms and loss of lung function, with great impact on health and significant restriction of life-style [25,26]. The association of vitamin D levels with quality of life in PCD patients may be explained by noncalcemic effects of vitamin D [6]. Vitamin D has an antimicrobial activity especially against airway pathogens. In bronchial epithelial cells, vitamin D increases the expression of cathelicidins which may prevent bacterial infections [27]. Cord blood levels of 25(OH)D have a strong inverse association with early life airways infections [8]. Vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced the risk of influenza A among Japanese schoolchildren [7] and of winter infections in vitamin D deficient Mongolian children [9]. Of interest is that the need for antibiotics decreases in older adults treated with oral vitamin D [10]. Finally, the resolution of inflammatory responses during tuberculosis treatment is accelerated by the addition of vitamin D [28]. Also chronic lung disorders have been associated to vitamin D status. Increased incidence of asthma and vitamin D deficiency appear related, and the decreased defense against airway pathogens triggering childhood and adulthood wheezing primarily accounts for this [29,30]. Moreover, reduced asthma control, lung function impairment and airway remodeling significantly correlate with hypovitaminosis D [31-33]. Vitamin D deficiency and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) appear strongly associated, likely because of subjects’ physical impairment and reduced PA, patients’ old age which is frequently associated with low vitamin levels, continuous steroid treatment inducing vitamin D catabolism, and malnutrition [34]. Vitamin D deficiency is common in adult non-CF/non-PCD bronchiectasis and correlates with disease severity, although the mechanism is unclear [11]. Likewise non-CF bronchiectasis, the recurrent-to-chronic infectious nature of PCD pulmonary disease might be associated to vitamin D status, and this prompted us to investigate on it. Of interest is that hypovitaminosis D is almost universal in CF, due to a combination of inadequate absorption, impaired metabolism, and lack of sun exposure [35]. Chest sepsis, albeit milder in PCD than CF, is a feature of both disorders [36]. However, vitamin D malabsorption is not seen in PCD, and hence, the pathogenesis of hypovitaminosis D in PCD can be somewhat different.

Markedly reduced nasal nitric oxide (nNO) is typical of PCD [37,38]. Explanations include NO trapping and subsequent breakdown in the airways due to mucus accumulation or paranasal sinuses agenesis [39,40], or also reduced nNO synthesis due to decreased expression, or abnormal activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoenzymes [40]. Regulation of NOS potentially contributes to the antimicrobial effects of vitamin D, but conflicting data were reported, ranging from a 1,25(OH)2D3-mediated induction of NOS expression in a human macrophage-like cell line to inhibitory actions of 1,25(OH)2D3 on NOS [41,42]. These findings indicate an association between vitamin D and NO production [43], and it is tempting to suppose that the NO-vitamin D relationship plays a role also in the PCD airways host defence.

This study has some limitations. The small sample size from a single centre could affect generalizability and, perhaps, the absence of significant differences among groups. However, the condition is rare, and this, combined with the criteria of stable disease, likely restricted patients’ inclusion. We did not compare stable versus unstable patients for determining the potential of exacerbations and/or the effect of antibiotics on vitamin D status. The cross-sectional nature of the study did not allow to evaluate vitamin D status longitudinally, particularly after adequate supplementation. We did not assess the patients’ daily dietary vitamin D intake, and finally, we did not measure vitamin D-binding protein, a serum protein with immunomodulatory functions that, as well as vitamin D, could be relevant in PCD [44]. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, our study provides the novel valuable information that a high proportion of PCD subjects have vitamin D deficiency-to-insufficiency, with worse QoL than sufficient patients. Determination of vitamin D levels in the early phases of PCD might also clarify the mechanism underlying the association between the two events, including whether the former precedes the latter. In COPD, osteoporosis also due to abnormal vitamin D status increases morbidity [45]. Surprisingly, osteoporosis was never investigated in PCD. Hopefully, following our novel information, a study might be promoted for preventing or treating potential PCD-associated osteoporosis.

In conclusion, our findings show that stable PCD children and adults commonly have hypovitaminosis D, with poorer quality of life than those without. This suggests that assessment of serum vitamin D levels might be included in the management of PCD patients. However, larger studies are warranted to clarify the relationship between hypovitaminosis D and PCD lung disease.

Abbreviations

COPD:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CF:

Cystic fibrosis

FVC:

Forced vital capacity

FEV1 :

Forced expiratory volume in 1 second

FEF25–75 :

Forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC

FRC:

Functional residual capacity

nNO:

Nasal nitric oxide

NOS:

Nitric oxide synthase

PCD:

Primary ciliary dyskinesia

PFTs:

Pulmonary function tests

QoL:

Quality of life

RV:

Residual volume

SGRQ:

Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire

PA:

Self-reported physical activity

SPSS-PC:

Statistical software package

UVB:

Ultraviolet B

References

  1. Bush A, Hogg C. Primary ciliary dyskinesia: recent advances in epidemiology, diagnosis, management and relationship with the expanding spectrum of ciliopathy. Expert Rev Respir Med. 2012;6:663–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Sagel SD, Davis SD, Campisi P, Dell SD. Update of respiratory tract disease in children with primary ciliary dyskinesia. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2011;8:438–43.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Marthin JK, Petersen N, Skovgaard LT, Nielsen KG. Lung function in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia: a cross-sectional and 3-decade longitudinal study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010;181:1262–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Maglione M, Bush A, Nielsen KG, Hogg C, Montella S, Marthin JK, et al. Multicenter analysis of body mass index, lung function, and sputum microbiology in primary ciliary dyskinesia. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2014;49 Suppl 12:1243–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Peterlik M, Cross HS. Vitamin D and calcium deficits predispose for multiple chronic diseases. Eur J Clin Invest. 2005;35:290–304.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:266–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Urashima M, Segawa T, Okazaki M, Kurihara M, Wada Y, Ida H. Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91:1255–60.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Camargo Jr CA, Ingham T, Wickens K, Thadhani R, Silvers KM, Epton MJ, et al. Cord-blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and risk of respiratory infection, wheezing, and asthma. Pediatrics. 2011;127:180–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Camargo Jr CA, Ganmaa D, Frazier AL, Kirchberg FF, Stuart JJ, Kleinman K, et al. Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation and risk of acute respiratory infection in Mongolia. Pediatrics. 2012;130:561–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Tran B, Armstrong BK, Ebeling PR, English DR, Kimlin MG, van der Pols JC, et al. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on antibiotic use: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014;99:156–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Chalmers JD, McHugh BJ, Docherty C, Govan JR, Hill AT. Vitamin-D deficiency is associated with chronic bacterial colonization and disease severity in bronchiectasis. Thorax. 2013;68:39–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Asher MI, Keil U, Anderson HR, Beasley R, Crane J, Martinez F, et al. International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC): rationale and methods. Eur Respir J. 1995;8:483–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Renzoni E, Forastiere F, Biggeri A, Viegi G, Bisanti L, Chellini E, et al. Differences in parental- and self-report of asthma, rhinitis and eczema among Italian adolescents. SIDRIA collaborative group. Studi Italiani sui Disordini Respiratori dell’ Infanzia e l’Ambiente. Eur Respir J. 1999;14:597–604.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Maglione M, Bush A, Montella S, Mollica C, Manna A, Esposito A, et al. Progression of lung disease in primary ciliary dyskinesia: is spirometry less accurate than CT? Pediatr Pulmonol. 2012;47:498–504.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Savastano S, Valentino R, Di Somma C, Orio F, Pivonello C, Passaretti F, et al. Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels, phosphoprotein enriched in diabetes gene product (PED/PEA-15) and leptin-to-adiponectin ratio in women with PCOS. Nutr Metab. 2011;8:84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Miller MR, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, Burgos F, Casaburi R, Coates A, et al. Standardisation of spirometry. Eur Respir J. 2005;26:319–38.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Wilson CB, Jones PW, O'Leary CJ, Cole PJ, Wilson R. Validation of the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire in bronchiectasis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997;156:536–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Maglione M, Montella S, Mirra V, Bruzzese D, Santamaria F. Long-term Assessment of Quality of Life in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: Time for New Tools? Chest. 2014;146:232–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Pifferi M, Bush A, Di Cicco M, Pradal U, Ragazzo V, Macchia P, et al. Health-related quality of life and unmet needs in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia. Eur Respir J. 2010;35:787–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Madsen A, Green K, Buchvald F, Hanel B, Nielsen KG. Aerobic fitness in children and young adults with primary ciliary dyskinesia. PLoS One. 2013;8:e71409.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Baïz N, Dargent-Molina P, Wark JD, Souberbielle JC, Slama R, Annesi-Maesano I, et al. Gestational exposure to urban air pollution related to a decrease in cord blood vitamin D levels. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012;97:4087–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Carnevale V, Modoni S, Pileri M, Di Giorgio A, Chiodini I, Minisola S, et al. Longitudinal evaluation of vitamin D status in healthy subjects from southern Italy: seasonal and gender differences. Osteoporos Int. 2001;12:1026–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Adami S, Bertoldo F, Braga V, Fracassi E, Gatti D, Gandolini G, et al. 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in healthy premenopausal women: association with bone turnover markers and bone mineral density. Bone. 2009;45:423–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Valerio G, Giallauria F, Montella S, Vaino N, Vigorito C, Mirra V, et al. Cardiopulmonary assessment in primary ciliary dyskinesia. Eur J Clin Invest. 2012;42:617–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Whalley S, McManus IC. Living with primary ciliary dyskinesia: a prospective qualitative study of knowledge sharing, symptom concealment, embarrassment, mistrust, and stigma. BMC Pulm Med. 2006;6:25.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Carotenuto M, Esposito M, Di Pasquale F, De Stefano S, Santamaria F. Psychological, cognitive and maternal stress assessment in children with primary ciliary dyskinesia. World J Pediatr. 2013;9:312–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Yim S, Dhawan P, Ragunath C, Christakos S, Diamond G. Induction of cathelicidin in normal and CF bronchial epithelial cells by 1,25- dihydroxyvitamin D(3). J Cyst Fibros. 2007;6:403–10.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Coussens AK, Wilkinson RJ, Hanifa Y, Nikolayevskyy V, Elkington PT, Islam K, et al. Vitamin D accelerates resolution of inflammatory responses during tuberculosis treatment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012;109:15449–54.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Camargo Jr CA, Rifas-Shiman SL, Litonjua AA, Rich-Edwards JW, Weiss ST, Gold DR, et al. Maternal intake of vitamin D during pregnancy and risk of recurrent wheeze in children at 3 y of age. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85:788–95.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Laaksi I, Ruohola JP, Tuohimaa P, Auvinen A, Haataja R, Pihlajamäki H, et al. An association of serum vitamin D concentrations < 40 nmol/L with acute respiratory tract infection in young Finnish men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;86:714–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Brehm JM, Celedón JC, Soto-Quiros ME, Avila L, Hunninghake GM, Forno E, et al. Serum vitamin D levels and markers of severity of childhood asthma in Costa Rica. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009;179:765–71.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Sutherland ER, Goleva E, Jackson LP, Stevens AD, Leung DY. Vitamin D levels, lung function, and steroid response in adult asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010;181:699–704.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Carraro S, Giordano G, Reniero F, Carpi D, Stocchero M, Sterk PJ, et al. Asthma severity in childhood and metabolomic profiling of breath condensate. Allergy. 2013;68:110–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Skaaby T, Husemoen LL, Thuesen BH, Pisinger C, Jørgensen T, Fenger RV, et al. Vitamin D status and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective general population study. PLoS One. 2014;9:e90654.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Hall WB, Sparks AA, Aris RM. Vitamin D deficiency in cystic fibrosis. Int J Endocrinol. 2010;2010:218691.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Santamaria F, Montella S, Tiddens HA, Guidi G, Casotti V, Maglione M, et al. Structural and functional lung disease in primary ciliary dyskinesia. Chest. 2008;134:351–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Montella S, Alving K, Maniscalco M, Sofia M, De Stefano S, Raia V, et al. Measurement of nasal nitric oxide by hand-held and stationary devices. Eur J Clin Invest. 2011;41:1063–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Boon M, Meyts I, Proesmans M, Vermeulen FL, Jorissen M, De Boeck K. Diagnostic accuracy of nitric oxide measurements to detect Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. Eur J Clin Invest. 2014;44 Suppl 5:477–85.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Santamaria F, De Stefano S, Montella S, Barbarano F, Iacotucci P, Ciccarelli R, et al. Nasal nitric oxide assessment in primary ciliary dyskinesia using aspiration, exhalation, and humming. Med Sci Monit. 2008;14:80–5.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Walker WT, Jackson CL, Lackie PM, Hogg C, Lucas JS. Nitric oxide in primary ciliary dyskinesia. Eur Respir J. 2012;40:1024–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Rockett KA, Brookes R, Udalova I, Vidal V, Hill AV, Kwiatkowski D. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 induces nitric oxide synthase and suppresses growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a human macrophage-like cell line. Infect Immun. 1998;66:5314–21.

    PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Chang JM, Kuo MC, Kuo HT, Hwang SJ, Tsai JC, Chen HC, et al. 1-alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 regulates inducible nitric oxide synthase messenger RNA expression and nitric oxide release in macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cells. J Lab Clin Med. 2004;143:14–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Bartley J, Garrett J, Grant CC, Camargo Jr CA. Could vitamin D have a potential anti-inflammatory and anti-infective role in bronchiectasis? Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2013;15:148–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Chishimba L, Thickett DR, Stockley RA, Wood AM. The vitamin D axis in the lung: a key role for vitamin D-binding protein. Thorax. 2010;65:456–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Lehouck A, Boonen S, Decramer M, Janssens W. COPD, bone metabolism, and osteoporosis. Chest. 2011;139:648–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

All authors declare that they have not been funded and they disclose any involvement with organization(s) with financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in the submitted manuscript. All authors declare that they have no potential conflict of interest, real or perceived.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Silvia Montella

    Present address: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Via Sergio Pansini, 5-80131, Naples, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Via Sergio Pansini, 5-80131, Naples, Italy

    Virginia Mirra, Marco Maglione, Laida Lisa Di Micco & Francesca Santamaria

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

    Carlo Caffarelli

  3. National Council of Research, Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology, Naples, Italy

    Rossella Valentino, Giuseppe Perruolo & Claudia Mazzarella

Authors
  1. Virginia Mirra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carlo Caffarelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marco Maglione
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rossella Valentino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Giuseppe Perruolo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Claudia Mazzarella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Laida Lisa Di Micco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Silvia Montella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Francesca Santamaria
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesca Santamaria.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

Dr FS is the guarantor for the manuscript, designed the study, and contributed to writing the manuscript, FG. Dr CC contributed to interpreting the data and writing the manuscript, FG. Dr V contributed to interpreting the data, writing the manuscript, and approving the final manuscript, FG. Dr M contributed to supervising the study, analyzing the data, interpreting the data, writing the manuscript, and approving the final manuscript, ES. Dr M contributed to administering the St. Georges Respiratory and self-reported physical activity questionnaires, interpreting the data, writing the manuscript, and approving the final manuscript, FG. Dr M contributed to administering the St. Georges Respiratory and self-reported physical activity questionnaires, interpreting the data, writing the manuscript, and approving the final manuscript, FG. Dr DM contributed to selecting patients, interpreting the data, writing the manuscript and approving the final manuscript, FG. Drs P and M performed the vitamin D assay and interpreting the data and approving the final manuscript, JY. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Silvia Montella and Francesca Santamaria contributed equally to this work.

Rights and permissions

Open Access  This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made.

The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder.

To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mirra, V., Caffarelli, C., Maglione, M. et al. Hypovitaminosis D: a novel finding in primary ciliary dyskinesia. Ital J Pediatr 41, 14 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-015-0119-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-015-0119-5

Keywords

  • Primary ciliary dyskinesia
  • Vitamin D
  • Quality of life

Italian Journal of Pediatrics

ISSN: 1824-7288

Contact us