الفهرس 
Introduction and rationaleOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 111 |  |  |
| | | from | 111 | | |
Abstract
Systemic Lupus Erythromatosus (SLE) is a multi-system chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that may compromise multiple organs, primarily affects young women of reproductive age, at a ratio of nine women for every man. Although the natural history of autoimmunity remains largely unknown, the widespread theory is that both genetic susceptibility and environmental factors play a role in the development of clinical disease. Both experimental observations and clinical studies suggest a key role for vitamin D as a modifiable environmental factor in autoimmune disease. SLE patients in particular have a list of multiple risk factors predisposing them to vitamin D deficiency. On the other hand, many researchers suggested it as a risk factor itself for developing SLE. Numerous previous studies analyzing its prevalence in SLE patients and its relation with disease activity and finding positive versus negative results made it even more interesting to investigate it in our current study.