Low vitamin D exposure is associated with higher risk of infection in renal transplant recipients. Issue 5 (4th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kalluri, Hari V.; Sacha, Lauren M.; Ingemi, Amanda I.; Shullo, Michael A.; Johnson, Heather J.; Sood, Puneet; Tevar, Amit D.; Humar, Abhinav; Venkataramanan, Raman
• Is Part Of: Clinical transplantation. Volume 31:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-04-04
• Subjects: 25‐hydroxyvitamin D -- calcidiol -- calcitriol -- infection risk -- renal transplantation -- vitamin D; Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc -- Periodicals; 617.95
• DOI: 10.1111/ctr.12955
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0902-0063

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Vitamin D is a steroid hormone with multiple vital roles within the immune system. Various studies evaluated the influence of vitamin D on infections postrenal transplantation and found contrasting results. This study aimed to assess the relationship between vitamin D status and the incidence of infection in renal transplant recipients. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of adult renal transplant recipients at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center between 2005 and 2012. Patients were grouped as vitamin D sufficient (≥30 ng/mL) or deficient (<30 ng/mL) based on total serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations. The association between vitamin D levels collected at any point post‐transplantation and incidence of infection within ±90 days of the vitamin D levels were assessed using logistic and Poisson's regression models. Results: Vitamin D sufficiency at any point post‐transplantation was significantly associated with a 66% lower odds (OR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.22‐0.52; P <.001) and 43% lower rate of infections (incident rate ratio (IRR): 0.57; 95% CI: 0.46‐0.71; P <.001) within ±90 days of the vitamin D level. Baseline vitamin D level was also associated with lower incidence and risk for infections within the first year post‐transplantation. Conclusion: Adequate levels of vitamin D in kidney transplant recipients are associated with lower infection risk in the first year and at any time post‐transplantation.