Variable deficits of bone mineral despite chronic glucocorticoid therapy in pediatric patients with inflammatory diseases: a Glaser Pediatric Research Network study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between chronic glucocorticoid (GC) exposure and bone mineral density (BMD) in children with rheumatic diseases and inflammatory bowel disease.


METHODS
Lumbar spine BMD was measured by DXA in 86 GC-treated children (66% female, age 8-20 years, mixed ethnicity) screened for a multi-center intervention trial. Predictors of spine BMD z-score and vitamin D [25(OH)D] were examined by multivariable linear regression.


RESULTS
Mean prior year and lifetime cumulative GC exposure was 77.8 mg/kg and 224.6 mg/kg, respectively. BMD z-scores ranged from -3.7 to 2.2 SD (-1.1 +/- 1.2, mean +/- SD). Lower BMD z-scores were associated with increased prior year average daily GC dose (p = 0.03), decreased height z-score (p = 0.003), and decreased 25(OH)D concentrations (p = 0.03), but explained only a small proportion of BMD variability (adjusted R2 = 0.29). The 25(OH)D levels were <20 ng/ml in 45% of patients, and low 25(OH)D was associated with non-Caucasian ethnicity (p <0.001), increased age (p = 0.004), increased parathyroid hormone (p = 0.03), and residing in the Boston area (p <0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Although GC exposure is significantly associated with BMD z-score, the association is too variable to serve as a consistent predictor of reduced BMD in children. Vitamin D insufficiency is common and may contribute to skeletal deficits in this population.
von Scheven
Emily
E
Children's Hospital, University of California at San Francisco, 94143, USA. evonsche@peds.ucsf.edu
Gordon
Catherine M
CM
Wypij
David
D
Wertz
Marcia
M
Gallagher
Kerry T
KT
Bachrach
Laura
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium