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Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus experienced bone mineral density loss at hip
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Female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus experienced significant bone mineral density loss at the hip during a period of 5 years, according to study results.
Researchers collected demographics and clinical data for 125 female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with a median disease duration of 10.4 years. Using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, the researchers performed bone mineral density (BMD) testing at the femoral neck, total hip and lumbar spine at baseline and follow-up.
During a mean follow-up of 5 years, study results showed an average percentage change of –2.41% at the femoral neck, –1.63% at the total hip and –0.62% at the lumbar spine. Overall, the researchers found significant changes at both the femoral neck and total hip, but not at the lumbar spine.
The researchers also found a significant association between disease flare, new organ damage and use of glucocorticoids during follow-up, with larger decreases in BMD. Although BMD loss was arrested at the femoral neck, in patients receiving antiosteoporosis therapy, BMD increased at the total hip and lumbar spine.
Increased BMD at any site was associated with use of antiosteoporosis therapy, and new organ damage was an independent predictor of BMD loss at the femoral neck, according to the results of multivariate analyses.
Disclosure: The research was supported by a research grant from the Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology Project Fund.
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