Table 1.
Characteristics of the whole sample of patients with Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV) and Bullous Pemphigoid (BP) and the respective controls
| PV controls (n = 35)* | PV patients (n = 35)* | P value | BP controls (n = 32)* | BP patients (n = 32)* | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 53.7 ± 14.9 (27 – 79) | 55.5 ± 14.6 (27 – 79) | 0.608 | 76.7 ± 9.2 (59 – 90) | 79.0 ± 9.9 (48 – 90) | 0.324 |
| Gender (females) | 19 (54.3) | 19 (54.3) | 1.000 | 17 (53.1) | 17 (53.1) | 1.000 |
| BMI (kg/m 2 ) | 26.0 ± 4.3 (19.9 –37.0) | 25.1 ± 5.0 (18.4 – 39.0) | 0.661 | 27.9 ± 4.6 (20.3 – 36.0) | 26.7 ± 4.0 (17.6 – 36.7) | 0.284 |
| N. of current smokers (%) | 10 (28.6) | 7 (20.0) | 0.403 | 5 (15.6) | 3 (9.4) | 0.708 |
| N. of subjects with history of clinical fractures (%) | 4 (11.4) | 1 (2.9) | 0.356 | 5 (15.6) | 3 (9.4) | 0.708 |
| Sun exposure score | 13.7 ± 6.9 (4 – 28) | 14.1 ± 5.8 (7 – 32) | 0.791 | 9.9 ± 7.4 (2 – 26) | 9.9 ± 7.3 (2 – 33) | 0.851 |
| Calcium (mg/dL) | 9.2 ± 0.3 (8.7 – 9.7) | 9.1 ± 0.4 (8.2 – 10.0) | 0.513 | 9.3 ± 0.3 (8.6 – 10.0) | 9.0 ± 0.3 (8.3 – 9.8) | 0.001 |
| 25(OH) Vitamin D (ng/mL) | 22.2 ± 11.1 (6.4 – 53.0) | 13.9 ± 8.3 (4.0 – 34.8) | 0.001 | 22.4 ± 14.9 (4.0 – 79.0) | 9.5 ± 7.7 (4.0 – 31.8) | 0.000 |
| N. of subjects with severe hypovitaminosis D (%) | 8 (22.9) | 17 (48.6) | 0.025 | 10 (31.3) | 24 (75.0) | 0.000 |
| Alkaline phosphatase (U/L) | 72.7 ± 19.1 (38 – 115) | 60.4 ± 19.5 (35 – 128) | 0.013 | 71.0 ± 17.2 (39 – 105) | 64.9 ± 18.2 (34 – 105) | 0.173 |
| LS BMD (Z-score) | 0.21 ± 1.42 (−2.0 – 3.7) | 0.35 ± 1.67 (−3.2 – 3.3) | 0.717 | −0.03 ± 1.47 (−2.6 – 3.8) | 0.06 ± 1.65 (−2.9 – 3.1) | 0.831 |
| FN BMD (Z-score) | −0.14 ± 1.04 (−1.6 – 2.7) | 0.00 ± 1.31 (−2.9 – 3.0) | 0.614 | −0.26 ± 1.0 (−2.0 – 2.2) | −0.20 ± 0.83 (−1.7 – 1.8) | 0.766 |
| N. of subjects with T-score < −2.5 at any site (%) | 4 (11.4) | 8 (22.9) | 0.342 | 9 (28.1) | 12 (37.5) | 0.424 |
| N. of subjects with vertebral fractures (%) | 10 (28.6) | 20 (57.1) | 0.029 | 11 (34.4) | 20 (62.5) | 0.024 |
Data are mean ± SD with range or percentage in parentheses for continuous or categorical variable, respectively.
*The table includes data from an already published study [reference #15] in which 28 patients (13 with PV and 15 with BP) and 28 matched controls were included, together with data from the extension arm of the study on 39 patients (22 with PV and 17 with BP) and 39 matched controls.
Severe hypovitaminosis D was defined in the presence of 25OHVitD levels <12 ng/mL (reference interval: 30–120 ng/ml).
Sun Exposure score: participants’ recollection of daily sun exposure over the previous week was assessed via a questionnaire administered (see reference #30)
Z-score, T-score: difference in standard deviation units in relation to the reference healthy population of same age (Z-score) and of the young adults (T-score).
Alkaline Phosphatase reference interval: 35–104 U/L. BMI: body mass index; BMD: bone mineral density; LS: lumbar spine; FT: total femur; FN: femoral neck.