Connective Tissue Diseases and Vitamin D Deficiency

Gazi University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Connective Tissue Diseases

Treatments: Other: Systemic sclerosis group; Other: Systemic lupus erythematosus group; Other: Healthy control group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05065814

205

Details and patient eligibility

About

Connective tissue disease (CTD) covers all heterogeneous and broad immunological diseases. These immunological diseases are characterized by inflammation, tissue damage, and abnormal repair. Disorders such as fibrotic tissue or loss of function are seen in the degeneration of the target organ. There is a complex relationship between genetic and environmental factors on the basis of these disorders.

Vitamin D deficiency has been frequently observed in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin D deficiency is primarily seen with musculoskeletal complaints and is an early warning of osteomalacia. Muscle weakness is most common in the trunk, shoulders and hips. It is characterized by difficulty in climbing stairs, getting up from sitting or lying position, feeling of heaviness in the legs, duck-like gait, difficulty getting up from a chair, fatigue easily, inability to lift objects with arms and hands. Patients experience decreased exercise capacity as a result of pain and muscle weakness. In addition, vitamin D deficiency causes smooth muscle contraction and an increase in airway inflammation. As a result, it was observed that the disease course and symptoms were more severe in CVD patients with vitamin D deficiency. In a study conducted with rheumatoid arthritis patients, the quality of life, physical activity and depression levels of patients with vitamin D deficiency were compared with the control group. The evaluation parameters of rheumatoid arthritis patients were worse than the control group. Vitamin D levels were compared with sleep, anxiety and depression levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. A positive relationship was found between vitamin D deficiency and sleep disturbance level. It has been observed that the life expectancy of patients with connective tissue disease is significantly reduced compared to healthy ones. Exercise capacity and oxygen consumption decreased in these patients.

Full description

Outpatient connective tissue disease patients (systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus) with stable medical conditions will be referred for physiotherapy and rehabilitation after being examined by the relevant physician. Physiotherapy evaluation will be made by the physiotherapist. In addition; healthy individuals who accepted and gave consent to participate in the study without any chronic disease for the healthy control group will be included in the study.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with stable general condition treated with standard medical treatment
• Patients between the ages of 18-65

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who cannot cooperate with the assessment
• Those who have orthopedic problems or neurological diseases that will affect the evaluation of functional capacity
• Patients with pneumonia or any acute infection at the time of assessment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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60 participants in 3 patient groups

Systemic lupus erythematosus group

Other group

Description:

Demographic information of systemic lupus erythematosus patients who accepted to participate in the study will be obtained, and respiratory and peripheral muscle strength and exercise capacity of the patients will be evaluated with a 6-minute walking test. Patients will be asked to complete the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the numerical pain questionnaire, the Short Form-36, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire. In addition, Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale will be applied by the interviewer.

Treatment:

Other: Systemic lupus erythematosus group

Systemic sclerosis group

Other group

Description:

Demographic information of systemic sclerosis who accepted to participate in the study will be obtained, and respiratory and peripheral muscle strength and exercise capacity of the patients will be evaluated with a 6-minute walking test. Patients will be asked to complete the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the numerical pain questionnaire, the Short Form-36, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire. In addition, Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale will be applied by the interviewer.

Treatment:

Other: Systemic sclerosis group

Healthy control group

Other group

Description:

Healthy individuals with no chronic diseases who agreed to participate in the study and gave their consent will be included in the study.

Treatment:

Other: Healthy control group