title: The effect of systemic lupus erythematosus and long-term steroid therapy on bone mass in pre-menopausal women.
abstract: The aim of our study was to assess bone mineral density (BMD) in pre-menopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the influence of disease activity and use of corticosteroids. Lumbar and femoral BMD were measured in 43 patients with SLE (28 on regular steroid therapy, 15 with recent onset, non-treated) and compared with 43 healthy women matched for age. In addition, 21 SLE patients treated with corticosteroids were followed-up with a mean of 36.6 +/- 12.7 months. BMD was significantly lower in SLE patients with prednisone doses > or = 7.5 mg/day than those of recent onset (lumbar: 1.07 +/- 0.11 vs 1.15 +/- 0.13, P = 0.039; femur: 0.85 +/- 0.13 vs 0.98 +/- 0.21, P = 0.034) and the control group (lumbar: 1.07 +/- 0.11 vs 1.13 +/- 0.10, P = 0.040; femur: 0.85 +/- 0.13 vs 0.93 +/- 0.10, P = 0.028). In addition, 18% of SLE steroid users had osteoporosis. Lumbar and femoral BMD were inversely correlated with the time of treatment and the cumulative doses of prednisone. There were no significant BMD changes during the 3-yr follow-up period. In conclusion, in SLE pre-menopausal patients lumbar and femoral BMD is decreased and related to long-term corticosteroid therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peris
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guañabens
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Font
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huguet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ingelmo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Gomez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Setoain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000378:metabolism; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000378:metabolism; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017697:Premenopause; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone