Bone mineral density of patients with chronic plaque psoriasis

Reduced bone mineral density (BMD), the major risk factor for osteoporotic fracture. has been linked to palmoplantar pustular psoriasis, but no signif icant studies have examined BMD in chronic plaque psoriasis (CPP). In this study, in-patients with severe CPP had their BMD measured at the nondominan t hip and lumbar spine using dual energy X-ray absorbtiometry. Ten male and 10 female Caucasian patients were recruited, with a mean age of 47 years ( range 20-71 years). There were no significant differences in BMD between pa tients and controls. However, patients with psoriatic arthropathy in additi on to CPP had a significantly lower mean lumbar spine Z-score (- 1.16) than those without arthropathy (+ 1.38, P = 0.015). Neither previous nor curren t treatment with systemic steroids, retinoids or methotrexate significantly affected BMD. We found no evidence that patients with CPP despite risk fac tors, have a significantly low BMD, although the subgroup with joint involv ement appear be at significantly higher risk of osteoporosis and may theref ore require preventative treatment.