title: Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: We studied 70 patients (48 women and 22 men) with either rheumatic disease (n = 25) or lung disease (n = 45) who had been treated with glucocorticoids for at least 6 months (mean cumulative dose, 24.2 +/- 27.1 g of prednisone; mean current dose, 11.0 +/- 8.6 mg/d, mean duration of therapy, 8.1 years. We measured bone mineral density (BMD) of the hip (femoral neck) and spine (L2-L4) using dual-photon absorptiometry and BMD of the distal one third radius using single-photon absorptiometry. Compared with age-matched controls, the study population had decreased BMD of the spine (87.0%), hip (87.2%), and radius (90.6%). Current dose, cumulative dose, and duration of therapy were not correlated with BMD in the spine or hip in the total study population. The most significant correlations with low bone mass at the hip and spine were short height and low weight. There was a high incidence of hypercalciuria (30%) as compared with an age- and sex-matched control group (6.4%). Glucocorticoids are known to decrease vertebral and radial bone density. We conclude that glucocorticoids also decrease hip bone density as measured at the femoral neck. The high incidence of hypercalciuria may have implications for therapy of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Osteoporosis Medical Center, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Brandli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Golde
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greenwald
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids