Abstract
To assess the presence of generalized osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we measured bone mineral density (BMD) by quantitative computed tomography in the 3rd lumbar spine of 81 patients with RA. BMD was reduced in almost all of the postmenopausal patients and in about one-third of the premenopausal patients. In both groups, the score of erosion on X-rays and physical activity had a significant correlation with BMD.
In premenopausal patients, 1, 25-dihydroxyvitmin D3 significantly reversed generalized osteoporosis. Disease modifying drugs such as gold and Lobenzarit disodium prevented bone loss and decreased the rate of bone resorption significantly. Steroids showed no significant effect on bone loss.
