[The risk of developing osteoporosis in rheumatic diseases]

Although osteoporosis is frequently associated with rheumatic diseases, at present it is not clear if osteoporosis is due to local factors as for example disease and inflammation, or to a systemic factor related to the rheumatic condition. In this review the present stage of knowledge on the inverse relationship between primary osteoarthritis and primary osteoporosis, bone metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis, the effect of corticosteroids on bone in rheumatoid arthritis, and preventive and curative therapy for osteoporosis is discussed.