Frequency of Low Bone Mineral Density and Osteoporosis in a Cohort of Egyptian Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease associated with an inflammatory status and multi systemic damage due to interaction between genetic, immunological, endocrine and environmental factors. Osteoporosis is a systemic asymptomatic skeletal disease characterized by decreased bone density and changes in bone microarchitecture that reduce bone strength and increase fragility that predispose the bone to fracture risk. Bone loss and osteoporosis are recognized major disease and treatment-related complications in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The aim of this work was determine the frequency of low bone mineral density and osteoporosis in a cohort of Egyptian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and their relation to disease activity. This cross sectional study had been conducted on 60 Egyptian patients with SLE fulfilling 2012 SLICC classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematous. After an informative consent, all patients were subjected to detailed medical history taking and full clinical examination. Lumbar spine and femoral hip measurements of BMD were performed by DXA. Additionally, the 10-year probability of major osteoporotic (spine, hip, forearm and humerus