Reduced bone mineral density in Japanese premenopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with glucocorticoids

Factors associated with osteoporosis and fractures in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Kyoto Lupus Cohort

OBJECTIVES

Osteoporosis and compression fractures of the lumbar spine are some of the major adverse effects of glucocorticoid therapy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study examined the association between bone mineral density, bone turnover markers, presence of vertebral fractures, and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index in SLE patients.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 246 outpatients with SLE at the Kyoto University Hospital. Lumbar and femoral bone mineral density was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the presence of vertebral fractures was determined using X-ray, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

On multiple regression analysis, both high lumbar and femoral T-scores were associated with the concomitant use of hydroxychloroquine (P = .018 and P = .037, respectively), no use of bisphosphonate or denosumab (P = .004 and P = .038, respectively), high body mass index (P < .001), and low bone-specific alkaline phosphatase level (P = .014 and P = .002, respectively). Vertebral fractures showed a significant association with Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index score (P < .001) and femoral T-score (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Vertebral fracture was associated with SLE-associated organ damage, and serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase level is a potentially useful marker for osteoporosis monitoring in SLE patients.

A meta-analysis of secondary osteoporosis in systemic lupus erythematosus: prevalence and risk factors

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of secondary osteoporosis (OP) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and provide a theoretical basis for clinical prevention and treatment of SLE.

METHODS

Take systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant studies. Data sources are CINAHL databases, PubMed, Embase, Wan Fang, Weipu, and CNKI databases. Eligibility criteria are cross-sectional or case-control studies which analyzed the prevalence and risk factors of OP in SLE. Two authors independently screened all studies; a third author verified and identify controversial studies. The quality of the included articles was evaluated. Stata 11 and Rev-Man 5.2 software were used for data processing.

RESULTS

Thirty-one articles were included, with a total sample size of 3089 SLE, including 529 OP cases and 2560 non-OP cases. Meta-analysis showed that the prevalence of OP among SLE was 16% (95% CI (0.12, 0.19)). The risk of OP in SLE cases compared with controls was significantly greater with OR of 2.03 (95% CI 1.33-3.10, P = 0.001). Age, disease duration, cumulative glucocorticoid dose, duration of glucocorticoid therapy, SLICC, and menopause had significant differences between two groups. No statistical differences of daily glucocorticoid dose, SLEDAI, and BMI were found between OP and non-OP cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found a statistically significant increased risk of OP in SLE patients compared with controls. SLE patients should be actively screened for OP and its consequences. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm this possible association. The prevalence of OP in SLE was 16%. Compared with controls, the risk of OP in SLE was 2.03. There were significant differences of age, disease duration, cumulative glucocorticoid dose, time of glucocorticoid, SLICC, and menopause, while daily glucocorticoid dose, SLEDAI, and BMI had no statistical differences between OP and non-OP cases.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Reduced Bone Mineral Density in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients: A Meta-Analysis

Background

We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis concerning the frequency and risk factors of reduced bone mineral density (BMD) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with evidence from published studies.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted based on the EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases up to March 5th, 2017. Eligible studies reported any prevalence of reduced BMD in SLE patients. All risk factors with odds ratios or risk ratios associated with reduced BMD were extracted.

Results

71 reports with 33527 SLE patients were included. Low BMD, osteopenia, and osteoporosis at any site were presented, respectively, in 45%, 38%, and 13% of the SLE patients. The prevalence of osteoporosis increased with the advancing of age, while U-shaped associations between age and the prevalence of low BMD and osteopenia were found. Lumbar spine was indicated to have higher prevalence of osteoporosis. Age, disease duration, drugs use, and many other factors were identified as predictors of reduced BMD.

Conclusion

Low BMD, osteoporosis, and osteopenia appeared to be prevalent in patients with SLE. Risk factors of reduced BMD were various.

Prevalence and possible risk factors of low bone mineral density in untreated female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation. Different studies have shown decreased bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with SLE. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and possible risk factors of low BMD in untreated female patients with SLE in Chinese population. A total of 119 untreated female patients with SLE were included. BMD was measured at lumbar spine and at total hip by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The associations between decreased BMD and demographic variables, clinical variables, and bone metabolism variables were analyzed. These SLE patients had the following characteristics: mean age was 32.6 ± 11.9 years, mean disease duration was 22.1 ± 34.5 months, and mean SLEDAI was 11.4 ± 5.4. Osteopenia was present in 31.1% of the patients and osteoporosis in 8.5%. A significant negative association between low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and BMD at the lumbar spine (correlation coefficient = −0.242; P = 0.023) and total hip (correlation coefficient = −0.259; P = 0.019) was shown. These results seem to indicate that increased LDL-c may be an important risk factor for low BMD at lumbar spine and total hip in untreated female SLE patients.

Increased serum fibroblast growth factor-23 and decreased bone turnover in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus under treatment with cyclosporine and steroid but not steroid only

SUMMARY

In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), low bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with increased age, prolonged disease, low body mass index (BMI), and overlap with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Elevated fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 in cyclosporine A (CsA) users with SLE are associated with decreased active vitamin D and osteocalcin.

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to investigate the steroid and CsA effect on bone metabolism and serum FGF-23 in SLE patients.

METHODS

Seventy-two SLE patients and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals underwent blood tests for bone metabolic biomarkers and FGF-23, and lumbar spine dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for BMD.

RESULTS

Comparisons between patients and controls were made in premenopausal women/men younger than 50 years and postmenopausal women/men older than 50 years separately. SLE patients had more frequent low Z-score (≤-2.0, 8.5 vs. 0%), osteopenia (-2.5<T-score<-1.0, 52 vs. 50%), and osteoporosis (T-score≤-2.5, 12 vs. 0%), than the healthy age-compatible counterparts. BMD was significantly lower in patients with advanced age, longer disease duration, lower BMI, and overlap with RA (all p<0.05 by multiple linear regression analyses). Serum FGF-23 was significantly higher and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3) lower in SLE patients treated with glucocorticoid and CsA than in those not taking both of them (p=0.027 and 0.002, respectively). The cumulative dose of glucocorticoid was inversely correlated with serum intact parathyroid hormone (r=-0.299, p=0.011), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (r=-0.581, p<0.001), and osteocalcin (r=-0.648, p<0.001). FGF-23 and the cumulative dose of CsA were positively correlated (r=0.38, p=0.001) and both were negatively correlated with 1,25(OH)2D3 (r=-0.266, p=0.016 and r=-0.55, p<0.001) and osteocalcin (r=-0.234, p=0.034 and r=-0.274, p=0.02).

CONCLUSION

SLE patients treated with glucocorticoid and CsA exhibited markedly decreased bone turnover. Those taking CsA had higher serum FGF-23 associated with suppression of 1,25(OH)2D3 and bone formation. Such high-risk patients necessitate regular screening of osteoporosis.