Osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis: safety of low dose corticosteroids.

• DOI: 10.1136/ard.45.11.950
• Publication Date: 2008-07-28T23:49:46Z
• Authors: P.N Sambrook; J.A Eisman; M.G Yeates; N.A Pocock; S Eberl; G.D Champion
• Keywords: Adult; Risk; Prednisolone; Middle Aged; Bone and Bones; 3. Good health; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Osteoporosis; Female; Menopause; Radionuclide Imaging

Fear of inducing generalised osteoporosis is one reason why corticosteroids are withheld in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). No studies, however, have directly measured bone density such at clinically relevant sites. To assess this risk we mineral the lumbar spine and femoral neck by dual photon absorptiometry 84 RA, 44 whom had been treated low dose prednis(ol)one (mean +/- SE 8.0 0.5 mg/day; mean duration treatment 89.6 12.0 months). There were significant reductions (lumbar 9.6%, p less than 0.001; 12.2%, 0.001) those who not received 6.9%, 0.01; 8.9%, 0.001), but differences between two groups significant. We conclude on basis these studies that oral do increase arthritis.