[Fracture threshhold of rheumatoid arthritis patients]

The Bone mass measurement had been difficult while the fracture risk of the rheumatoid arthritic patient had been depended on osteoporosis. Recently, the accuracy of bone mass measurement became reliable that the adequate data could be obtained from the patients. This study shows the fracture threshold of rheumatoid patients by obtaining the bone mass density of those who had been suffering from fracture by DEXA. Twenty two limbs of 21 female patients were affected, average age of 65 and duration of 18 years, and the sites of fracture were femoral neck in 9 cases and humeral neck in 4 cases (62% of the fracture). The BMD of the spine in these patients shows. 828 g/cm2 which was below -3.4 sd of the normal japanese female and thought to be a fracture threshold in RA patients. The risk factors of the fractures in RA were ADL in the limbs, history of total joints arthroplasty and low body mass index.