Oral pamidronate prevents high-dose glucocorticoid-induced lumbar spine bone loss in premenopausal connective tissue disease (mainly lupus) patients

• DOI: 10.1191/0961203305lu2149oa
• Publication Date: 2005-07-16T12:30:14Z
• Authors: A Nzeusseu Toukap; G Depresseux; J-P Devogelaer; F A Houssiau
• Keywords: Adult; Lumbar Vertebrae; Diphosphonates; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Administration, Oral; Pamidronate; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Premenopause; Bone Density; Humans; Osteoporosis; Female; Bone Remodeling; Prospective Studies; Connective Tissue Diseases; Pelvic Bones; Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoid (GC)-induced osteoporosis contributes to chronic damage in patients suffering from connective tissue diseases (CTD) such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, performed an highly selected cohort of premenopausal female CTD (mostly lupus) patients, given high-dose GC therapy for severe disease, we show that lumbar spine bone loss can be averted by treatment with oral disodium pamidronate combined calcium salts and vitamin D3 supplements not alone. We stress the need optimal GC-induced prevention a too often neglected issue whose survival has dramatically improved over last decades.