title: [Bone mineral density in patients with multiple sclerosis: the effects of interferon].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are at greater risk of suffering from osteoporosis and pathological fractures, and the use of corticoids together with immobilisation and vitamin D deficiency is one of the causes of low bone mass (BM). AIMS. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of interferon, a drug that has only recently been introduced in the treatment of the disease, on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone remodelling markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 females and 18 males with MS were studied. A standardised case history report was examined, and determinations of ionic calcium, vitamin D, osteocalcin, iPTH and urinary deoxypyridinoline, together with calcaneus densimetry measurements using a DEXA densimeter were also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The females treated with interferon had a BMD similar to that of those who had only received corticoids. Yet the males treated with interferon had a BMD that was lower than that of those who had not been treated with this drug (0.484 0.104 g/cm2 compared to 0.631 0.143 g/cm2, p= 0.032) and the control group (0.484 0.104 g/cm2 compared to 0.581 0.102 g/cm2, p= 0.015). No differences were found in the bone remodelling parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Males treated with interferon present a decrease in BM, and results are paradoxical because interferon plays a part in regulating bone metabolism and inhibits the development of osteoclasts, the cells responsible for bone resorption.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universario Río Hortega, Valladolid, España. castrv@terra.es
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pérez Castrillón
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cano-del Pozo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanz-Izquierdo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Velayos-Jiménez
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dib-Wobakin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000652:urine; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015220:Calcium Channels; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015675:Osteocalcin; D014807:Vitamin D; D016899:Interferon-beta; C036020:deoxypyridinoline