Evaluation of Serum Vitamin D, LL37 and Interferon Gamma Levels in Saudi Children with Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

Background: Since vitamin D deficiency is prevalent problem among Saudi population and hence its immunomodulatory role is increasingly investigated, this study tries to link between the immunomodulatory role of vitamin D and the risk of LRTI in children. Objectives: Evaluation of serum vitamin D, plasma LL37, and serum interferon γ levels in pediatric patients with acute lower respiratory tract infection. Material and methods: Fifty children with ALRTI admitted at King Khaled University Hospital, Riyadh/KSA were enrolled in the study. Seventythree apparently healthy children were used as a control group. The results were compared with a matching group of apparently healthy children. We aimed to assess the correlations among serum vitamin D levels, inflammatory markers, and infection status. Results: We found that there was a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Saudi children in general, regardless of the presence of ALRTI. No significant differences in serum vitamin D or plasma LL37 levels were observed between groups. In contrast, serum interferon-γ was found to be significantly higher in children with ALRTI. Moreover, patients with serum vitamin D deficiency were found to have longer hospital stays than patients with normal serum vitamin D levels [P < 0.001]. Conclusions: These findings support the immunomodulatory role of vitamin D in the clinical course of ALRTI.