In a cross-sectional study to assess the effects of early bisphosphonate therapy on bone mineral density (BMD) in patient with inflammatory rheumatologic diseases treated with corticosteroids. 

Kafedjiska I1, Gucev F1, Perchinkova SM1, Antova D1, Sandevska E1, Bojadzioska M1, Vidinikj S1, Pavlova S1. 1

University Clinic of Rheumatology, Skopje, Macedonia

In a cross-sectional study to assess the effects of early bisphosphonate therapy on bone mineral density (BMD) in patient with inflammatory rheumatologic diseases treated with corticosteroids. 

We compared 75 postmenopausal patients with inflammatory rheumatologic diseases, being treated with bisphosphonates, with 80 postmenopausal control subjects. Bone mineral density was measured at the lumbar spine and proximal femur using dual x-ray absorptiometry. 

Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases had and average T-score at the lumbar spine of -2.19, and -1.41 at the hip. Average T-score for the control group was -2.21 at the lumbar spine and -1.55 at the hip. Corticosteroid mean dose was 6.9mg and the mean timeperiod for continuous use was 18 months. Difference in the T-score at the lumbar spine and hip between the two groups was 0.018 and 0.145 (P=0.945 and P=0.45) accordingly. There was no statistically significant difference in the T-scores for both groups.  

Osteoporosis is more prevalent in patients with inflammatory rheumatologic diseases, both at the hips and the spine. The early use of bisphosphonates in patients with inflammatory rheumatologic diseases, regardless of the use of corticosteroids, can prevent the loss of bone mineral density.