Higher Serum Vitamin D Levels have a Positive Association with the Incidence of Recidivans Form of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis; A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Several manifestations of cutaneous leishmaniasis are related to the host's immune system and the species of parasite. OBJECTIVE: There have been some studies on the relationship between vitamin D statuses in infectious diseases including cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, the results of these studies have been inconsistent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 147 patients with leishmaniasis were recruited and divided into the following categories: acute cutaneous leishmaniasis (<1 year) (n = 51), chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis (more than 1 year) (n = 26), and leishmaniasis recidivans (the appearance of new papular lesions around a previous scar) (n = 20), and a group of participants without leishmaniasis (n = 50), as a control group. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] level was analyzed. RESULT: There were significant differences in serum 25(OH) D between the groups with acute or chronic leishmaniasis and those with recidivans leishmaniasis (P = 0.013 and P = 0.022, respectively). The median serum level of vitamin D in the acute group was 13.7 ng/mL, in the chronic group was 16.05 ng/mL, in the recidivans group was 21.75 ng/mL, and in the control group was 17.97 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: Higher serum concentrations of 25(OH) vitamin D levels being associated with leishmaniasis recidivans.