[Incidence of osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]

Juxta-articular osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an early and specific pathology in this disease, however in RA patients there are also factors predisposing for the development of the generalised bone atrophy. 103 female patients with the diagnosis of RA established according to ACR criteria were included in the study. Its aim was to evaluate the generalised osteoporosis incidence in women suffering from RA as well as to find out how osteoporosis was related to certain clinical symptoms and laboratory findings, the disease process activity, and the treatment used. The mean age of the patients was 57.6 +/- 12 years, and the disease duration was 11.4 +/- 9 years. The bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by DEXA method with a LUNAR device and included: the radial bone in its 1/3 of the shaft's distal part; L1-L4 vertebral region; and the proximal part of the femoral bone. The division into subgroups was done basing on the 1994 WHO criteria. In RA female patients generalised osteoporosis was observed more frequently than in the control group. The study discovered a negative, statistically significant, correlation between BMD values and: the disease duration, the time of joint involvement acc. to Steinbrocker, the degree of functional impairment, the presence of extra-articular lesions, periods of immobilisation. There was also a dependence found upon the presence of positive Waaler-Rose reaction, and upon the therapy with Methotrexate and D-penicillamine, and when the patients were treated with glicocorticosteroids--upon the cumulative dose.