title: Bone turnover in non-steroid treated rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether changes in cancellous bone turnover and resorption cavity depth contribute to bone loss in patients with non-steroid treated rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Iliac crest biopsies were obtained from 37 patients with non-steroid treated rheumatoid arthritis, 13 male and 24 female, aged 37-71 years. Bone turnover and resorption cavity characteristics were quantitatively assessed using semiautomated computerised techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared with age- and sex-matched control values, there was a significant reduction in bone formation rate at tissue level and activation frequency (P < 0.001) in the patient group. The eroded perimeter, mean and maximum eroded depth and cavity area were also significantly reduced (P < 0.01, < 0.005, < 0.01 and < 0.005 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate low bone turnover in non-steroid treated rheumatoid arthritis and indicate that the reduced bone mass in these patients is due mainly to a negative remodelling balance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Compston
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vedi
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Croucher
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Garrahan
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal