Bone mineral density by digital X-ray radiogrammetry is strongly decreased and associated with joint destruction in long-standing Rheumatoid Arthritis: a cross-sectional study

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Research Article

Helena Forsblad-d'Elia¹  Hans Carlsten¹ 

[1] Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Box 480, S-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden;

关键词: Rheumatoid Arthritis;    Bone Mineral Density;    Early Rheumatoid Arthritis;    Disease Modify Anti Rheumatic Drug;    Established Rheumatoid Arthritis;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2474-12-242

 received in 2011-04-19, accepted in 2011-10-24,  发布年份 2011

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe aims were to explore bone mineral density (BMD) by digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) in postmenopausal women with long-lasting rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in relation to dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-BMD, joint destruction by conventional radiographs and disease related variables in a cross-sectional study.MethodsSeventy-five postmenopausal women with RA were examined by DXA measuring DXA-BMD of the forearm, total hip and lumbar spine, by scoring joint destruction on plain radiographs by the method of Larsen and by DXR-BMD in metacarpals two to four. The DXR-BMD results of the RA women were compared with an age and sex-matched reference database. A function of DXR-BMD in relation to age and disease duration was created. Associations were investigated by bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses.ResultsDXR-BMD was strongly decreased in RA patients compared to the reference database (p < 0.001). Calculations showed that DXR-BMD was not markedly influenced the first years after diagnosis of RA, but between approximately 5-10 years of disease there was a steep decline in DXR-BMD which subsequently levelled off. In multiple regression analyses disease duration, CRP and DXR-BMD were independent variables associated with Larsen score (R2= 0.64). Larsen score and BMD forearm were independent determinants of DXR-BMD (R2 = 0.79).ConclusionsDXR-BMD was strongly reduced and associated with both Larsen score and DXA-BMD forearm in these postmenopausal women with RA implying that DXR-BMD is a technique that reflects both the erosive process and bone loss adjacent to affected joints.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Forsblad-d'Elia and Carlsten; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011