As compared to the control group, the expression of VDR in the LN group was lower ( p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with activity index (r = -0.548, p = 0.012) but not with chronicity index (r = -0.277, p = 0.236).
We found a significant association between VDR FokI FF genotype with lupus nephritis (OR: 4.8; 95% CI: 2.2-10.6; p = 0.002); and high disease activity index score ( p = 0.01).
In the SLE patients, we did not detect any associations of VDR genotype with the clinical, laboratory profiles, or lupus nephritis (chi2 = 2.34, P = 0.3).