抄録
Decrease in bone mineral content was investigated in 55 RA female patients (mean age: 53.7 years) who had not been treated with steroids. A reduction in bone mineral content was noticed in the early stage at the distal end of the radius where arthritis frequently occurs. On the other hand, in the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck, a reduction in bone mineral content was seen in Stage N, and even in the same stage, bone mineral content showed a decreasing tendency as the class progressed. These findings indicate that not only periarticular osteoporo sis but also generalized osteoporosis occur in RA diseases. In order to investigate the mecha nism of generalized osteoporosis, changes in the index of remodeling and the endocrine envi ronment of the bone were analyzed. Osteocalcin, which reflects osteoblastic differentiation, increased as the stage progressed, but ALP, serum corrected Ca, serum P and Ca/Cre in the urine did not show any change according to the stage. PTH-HS increased significantly with stage progression. Calcitonin and 1, 25 (OH) 2 vitamin D did not change with stage progression, while estraadiol tended to decrease.
