Bone mineral density and turnover in non-corticosteroid treated African American children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), Z scores, and markers of bone turnover in African American children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).


METHODS
Eight children with JRA with no prior exposure to corticosteroids were evaluated. Lumbar spine (L1-L4) and total body and total hip BMC and BMD were determined using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and Z scores (BMD) were calculated. Serum samples of markers of bone turnover including pyridinoline (PYR), N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP), osteocalcin (OC), and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) were measured.


RESULTS
The mean Z score (BMD) at the lumbar spine (L1-L4) in patients with JRA was -1.2+/-0.8. Z scores for total body and total hip were within 1 standard deviation of normal compared with healthy historical controls matched for age, sex, and race.


CONCLUSIONS
BMD was normal for chronological age (defined as Z score >or= 2.0) in African American children with JRA who had not previously been treated with corticosteroids. Further studies are needed on the effects of JRA on skeletal health in African American children.
Head
Andrew J
AJ
Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology; Children's Foundation Research Center at LeBonheur Children's Medical Center; University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA.
Myers
Linda K
LK
Watsky
Mitchell A
MA
Greenwell
Mark W
MW
Barrow
Karen D
KD
Michelson
Jean A
JA
Carbone
Laura D
LD
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood
D000596:Amino Acids; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C047202:procollagen Type I N-terminal peptide; D015675:Osteocalcin; C015484:pyridinoline; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase