Journal article

Publication year: 1998

Pages: 171-175

Journal: Aktuelle Rheumatologie

Volume number: 23

Issue number: 6

ISSN: 0341-051X

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2008-1043604

Publisher: Georg Thieme Verlag

Abstract: 
In the present investigation bone metabolism was examined in 32 patients at the time of diagnosis and 6-7 months later: 19 patients (mean age 69 years) had definitive diagnosis of late-onset rheumatoid arthritis and 13 patients (mean age 69 years) had polymyalgia rheumatica. At the time of diagnosis the patients did not receive any medication, during the 6-7 months of follow-up they were treated with corticosteroids and nonsteroidal-antirheumatic drugs (NSAID). Serum levels of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase and ostase as markers for bone formation were tested. Bone density was examined by dual x-ray absorption (DEXA) of the lumbar spine and the leftward triangle. At the time of diagnosis no signs of bone alteration were seen. After 6-7 months abnormal values of the serum parameters and bone mineral density were found in 10/32 patients (31%): 4/13 patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and 6/19 patients with late-onset rheumatoid arthritis. Thus our findings suggest that an alteration of bone metabolism could be observed in a minority of patients during the first months of glucocorticoid medication, but in a majority of patients an osteoprotective effect seems to be worth discussing. The results suggest from a prophylactic and therapeutic point of view that an additional disease-modifying antirheumatic medication should be considered in the early stages of therapy to reduce the osteoporotic risk of a long term corticoid therapy.

Harvard Citation style: Lange, U., Teichmann, J. and Stracke, H. (1998) A prospective study on the influence of a glucocorticoid therapy on bone metabolism in late-stage rheumatoid arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica, Aktuelle Rheumatologie, 23(6), pp. 171-175. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2008-1043604

APA Citation style: Lange, U., Teichmann, J., & Stracke, H. (1998). A prospective study on the influence of a glucocorticoid therapy on bone metabolism in late-stage rheumatoid arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. Aktuelle Rheumatologie. 23(6), 171-175. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2008-1043604