Frequency and Associated Factors of Generalized Bone Loss in Premenopausal Early Rheumatoid Arthritis / 대한류마티스학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate frequency and associated factors of generalized bone loss in patients with premeonpausal early rheumatoid arthritis (RA)who had not been treated with corticosteroid. METHODS: We measured bone mineral density (BMD)of lumbar spine and hip by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA,Hologic QDR 4500)and investigated clinical;age,disease duration,numbers of tender and swollen joint,and laboratory;erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),C-reactive protein (CRP)and rheumatoid factor (RF),variables in patients with premenopausal early RA who had not been treated with corticosteroid,consecutively.Generalized bone loss was defined as T score less than -1,and clinical and laboratory variables were analyzed for generalized bone loss. RESULTS: In 41 patients with premenopausal early RA (age;38 +/-8 years, duration of disease 8 +/-6 months),the frequency of generalized bone loss in lumbar spine and hip were 35%and 46%.In multivariate logistic regression analysis,elevated CRP level was significantly associated with generalized bone loss in lumbar spine and femur neck. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with premenopausal early RA,elevated CRP level was associated with generalized bone loss of lumbar spine and femur neck.