Abstract
PURPOSE In regard with the effect of immune-stimulants in the treatment of infectious diseases, the effect of vitamin D administration on the outcome of patients with Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) with a high rate of mortality, was studied. MATERIAL AND METHOD In this trial, 46 adult patients suffering from VAP and vitamin D deficiency were enrolled. The first group of patients received single intramuscular injection of vitamin D (300000Unit), while the other group were given the placebo. RESULTS Administration of vitamin D significantly enhanced its levels (P<0.0001) in the treated patients (12.28±8.26) in comparison with placebo group (1.15±1.50). Serum Interleukin-6 levels were significantly reduced in the treated group compared to placebo (P=0.01). Although C-Reactive protein (CRP) levels showed an improving trend in the vitamin D group, no significant difference between groups (P=0.12) was found. Interestingly, the mortality rate of patients that treated with vitamin D (5/24) was significantly lower (p=0.04) than that of the placebo group (11/22). CONCLUSION Our results indicate that vitamin D administration can significantly reduce the IL-6 as prognostic marker in VAP patients, and must be considered as adjunct option in the treatment of VAP patients.
