Praktické lekárnictvo 3/2012

Supplementation of vitamin D in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is very important to do a quick diagnosis of osteoporosis and to do so in the time, when they are without symptoms of deficiency of vitamin D. We must radiographically follow the vertebral compressive fractures, measure levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and carefully follow density of minerals bone. The standard supplementation of vitamin D and calcium must be carefully considered. The patients with COPD that are treated with glucocorticoids had to start with antiresorption therapy not only if they are osteoporotic (T score < -2.5 or with existing fragility fracture), but in the time when they have defined osteopenie (T score < -1).

Keywords: COPD, vitamin D, calcium, osteoporosis.