A Study on Correlation between Bone Mineral Density and Biochemical Parameters of Bone Metabolism in Female Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To determine bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical parameters of bone metabolism in premenopausal female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE), and investigate the correlation between them. Methods Lumbar and femoral BMD in 30 female patients with SLE was determined by dual energy X ray absorptiometry. In 30 female patients and 39 controls, the corrected serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and albumin were measured by routine methods, and bone specific isoform of alkaline phophatase, propeptide of type 1 procollagen, deoxypyridinoline excretion, telopeptide of type 1 collagen, osteocalcin, parathyroid hormone, 25-OH vitamin D, testosterone, progesterone, estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinotropic hormone were measured by ELISA or RIA. Results According to the WHO criteria, 39% patients with SLE had normal BMD, 46% had osteopenia and 15% had osteoporosis at the lumbar spine; at the femoral neck 38.5% had normal BMD, 38.5% had osteopenia and 23% suffered form osteoporosis. All other bone resorption and formation markers measured were not significantly different except significantly higher corrected serum levels of albumin calcium (P=0.0001)and significantly lower osteocalcin level and phosphorus value(P=0.03,P=0.002) were found in the SLE patients. Of all sex hormones tested lower testosterone and higher follicle stimulating hormone concentration were seen in patients with SLE(P=0.001,P=0.42). Conclusion A high incidence of osteopenia and osteoporosis was found in premenopausal patients with SLE, which seems to be attributable, at least in part , to decreased bone formation in SLE patients.