BONE METABOLISM IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS - EFFECT OF DISEASE-ACTIVITY AND GLUCOCORTICOID TREATMENT

The bone metabolism in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE ) has previously been examined, but the results are conflicting. In th e present study the bone mineral density (BMD) of the axial and the ap pendicular skeleton was examined by means of dual energy x-ray absorpt iometry. The bone turnover was evaluated by means of biochemical marke rs in serum and urine in a prospective cohort consisting of 36 female and male SLE patients. Repealed measurements of BMD were performed for up to two years. The BMD was decreased in the hand and in the Femoral neck but normal in the spine and in the distal forearm. A weak correl ation was found between the BMD of the femoral neck and the total cons umption of glucocorticoids. Apart from this finding the BMD was uninfl uenced by treatment with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide. No sign ificant changes of BMD were found during the follow-up period. The ser um concentration of the carboxyterminal crosslinked telopeptide of typ e I collagen was increased in almost all patients, but no other bioche mical markers of bone metabolism were abnormal.