RESUMO
Osteoporosis in women with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] is a subject of great interest. This study aims at the determination of the frequency of osteoporosis in RA patients and investigates the main clinical determinants of bone mineral density [BMD] in this disease. Subjects and The work included sixty female patients with RA fulfilling the American Rheumatism Association criteria [ARA], irrespective of their age or menopausal state. BMD was measured in patients at the wrist and lumbar spine. The results showed a significantly higher body mass index [BMI] in patients with normal BMD. Rheumatoid patients with osteoporosis had a longer disease duration than the other groups [P=0.012]. All postmenopausal patients and 67% of premenopausal patients had a low BMD. All patients with normal BMD were pre-menopausal. Health assessment questionnaire [HAQ] was higher in patients with low BMD and osteoporotic patients [P=0.031 and 0.018]. The same is detected for Ritchie articular index [P=0.024,0.022 and 0.036 for low BMD, osteopenia and osteoporosis, respectively] The visual analogue questionnaire [VAQ] was significantly higher in low BMD, osteopenia and osteoporosis compared to the normal BMD group [P=0.000 for all]. Serum calcium was significantly lower, while alkaline phosphatase and rheumatoid factor were higher in low BMD, osteopenia and osteoporosis patients than normal BMD. It is concluded that osteoporosis is a feature of rheumatoid arthritis; it is increased with BMI, longer disease duration, post-menopausal women and increase disease activity