Book C et al. - BMD loss was predicted by high disease activity and disability but not by glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. With the DMARD, GC, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and bisphosphonate treatment strategies used during the study period, the general outcome seems favourable concerning loss of BMD in patients with early RA. Methods
Study to evaluate whether disease activity, disability, and GC treatment in early RA were risk factors for loss of BMD
97 women (mean age 58 yrs) were followed, for 24 mos, with a history of RA of <12 mos
Risk factors for osteoporosis were recorded
DAS28, HAQ score, and medications were registered at baseline and every 6 mos
Femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD were measured at baseline and after 2 yrs and compared to BMD in age- and gender-matched controls
Results
BMD loss was comparable to that of age-matched women in both the lumbar spine and the femoral neck
AUC for DAS28 was an independent predictor of changes in lumbar spine BMD and for HAQ of changes in femoral neck BMD
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