title: Relationship of glucocorticoid dosage to serum bone Gla-protein concentration in patients with rheumatologic disorders.
abstract: Serum bone Gla-protein (BGP) measurements in 50 rheumatic disease patients receiving long-term prednisone therapy revealed an inverse relationship (r = -0.71, P less than 0.001) between serum BGP levels and prednisone dosage. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated significant relationships (R2 = 0.72, P less than 0.001) between serum BGP1/2 and prednisone dosage, dosage2, serum creatinine, age, and an age-creatinine interaction. This model predicts the suppression of serum BGP with low dosages of steroids and 50% suppression with dosages of 20-25 mg/day.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kotowicz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Hunder
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cedel
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Riggs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D015675:Osteocalcin; D011241:Prednisone