Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of denosumab treatment for 1 year to osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: Patients with RA received subcutaneous injection of denosumab 60mg at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Assessments included bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and femoral neck (0 and 12 months), levels of serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b) and urinary pentosidine (0, 6 and 12 months), and levels of serum intact type I procollagen N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) (0 and 6 months).
Results: There were 32 consecutive patients and we excluded 3 patients with loss of follow-up. Mean changes in lumbar and femoral neck BMD at 12 months were +3.4% (p<0.0001) and +1.1% (NS), respectively. Mean changes in levels of serum TRACP-5b, P1NP (at 6 months) and urinary pentosidine at 12 months were -36.4% (p=0.0061), -30.1% (p=0.0088) and -10.3% (NS), respectively. Three (11.1%) new vertebral fractures and two (6.9%) hip fractures occurred. One case of osteonecrosis of the jaw was reported.
Conclusions: In patients with RA, denosumab treatment for 1 year provided favorable benefits.
