title: [The effect of long-term low dose prednisone on bone mineral density in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].
abstract: Objective:To investigate the effect of long-term low dose prednisone administration on bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods:A total of 118 inactive female SLE patients with long-term administration of low dose prednisone were recruited from the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at An hui Provincial Hospital.All patients were given low dose prednisone for long-term (≤10 mg/d, more than half a year). According to prednisone doses, subjects were divided into two groups, namely group A (≤7.5 mg/d) and group B (7.5-10 mg/d). In addition, patients were also divided into four groups based on the duration of administration, including groupⅠ≤3 years, Ⅱfrom 4-5 years, Ⅲ 6-10 years and Ⅳ>10 years.Twenty-nine healthy people were recruitedas normal controls.The BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.The association of BMD with prednisone dose and duration was compared between different groups.Results:The incidence of osteopenia in all patients with SLE was 42.4%(50/118), and the incidence of osteoporosis was 14.4%(17/118). BMD of all bone sites in both group A and B were significantly lower than that in normal control group (P<0.05). Similarly, the BMD of all bone sites in groupⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ were significantly decreased (P<0.05). What needed to be stressed was the BMD in group Ⅳ was lower than those in other three groups (P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the cumulative prednisone dose was the risk factor for osteopenia, while taking calcium and alfacalcidol were protective factors.Conclusion:Long-term use of low dose prednisone result in the decrease of BMD in patients with inactive SLE.The lumbar spine and femoral neck had more severe osteopenia. Long-term administration of prednisone, even less than 7.5 mg/d, can also cause osteopenia.Calcium and alfacalcidol were protective factors of BMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: X P
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: X M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001842:Bone and Bones; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D015994:Incidence; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D002118:Calcium; C008088:alfacalcidol; D011241:Prednisone
keywords: Bone density; Lupus erythematosus, systemic; Osteoporosis; Prednisone