Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) for Measuring Bone Mineral Density in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a common disease associated with aging and menopause, and is becoming a major health and socioeconomic problem world-wide. Glucocorticoids excess carries the risk of inducing secondary osteoporosis. In long­ term glucocorticoid treatment at therapeutic doses, bone loss is likely and should be prevented; if prevention is ineffective, treatment is necessary.

The aim of this work is to examme BMD in SLE patients using DEXA and to compare BMD in SLE patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls.

The study was carried on 60 patients: 20 patients with SLE, 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 20 as healthy controls. BMD was assessed by DEXA. To abolish individual patient's factors that could contribute heavily to bone loss, patients of all groups wee almost of the same age, sex, race and social class. Patients with other diseases or medications that might affect bone mass were excluded.

In SLE group patients had significantly reduced BMD values at lumbar spine compared to rheumatoid arthritis group, whereas compared to healthy control, BMD values significantly reduced at lumbar spine, hip and distal end of forearm.