title: Hormonal preservation of bone in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Bone loss is a hallmark of RA. Factors influencing generalized bone loss include RA-specific factors such as the influence of disease activity and deficient sex hormone status and more general mechanisms (e.g., due to the use of glucocorticoids). Reducing disease activity has a positive effect on bone. Estrogens or androgens can restore deficiency of the sex hormones with a small positive effect on BMD. The more pronounced bone loss occurs when RA patients are being treated with glucocorticoids. This bone loss can be reduced by the concomitant use of calcium and vitamin D and, in most patients, by the use of bisphosphonates as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. j.w.j.bijlsma@digd.azu.nl
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bijlsma
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004164:Diphosphonates; D004232:Diuretics; D004967:Estrogens; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014807:Vitamin D