title: Bone loss in adults receiving alternate day glucocorticoid therapy. A comparison with daily therapy.
abstract: Bone mineral content was measured by photon absorption densitometry in 25 patients with rheumatic diseases receiving glucocorticoids on an alternate day treatment schedule, and in 25 age-, sex-, and race-matched patients receiving daily steroid therapy. Mean values for cortical (diaphyseal) mass, trabecular (metaphyseal) mass, and the cortical/trabecular mass ratios were not different in the two groups. Steroid-induced osteopenia, defined as an elevated ratio of cortical to trabecular mass, occurred in both therapeutic regimens (8 of 25 on alternate day; 11 of 25 on daily). Therefore, bone loss was demonstrable in individuals on alternate day regimens. Serum levels of calcium, ionized calcium, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone were similar in the two groups.
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010015:Osteolysis, Essential / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011241:Prednisone