PEDIATRICS Vol. 91 No. 6 June 1993, pp. 1127-1130
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Kotaniemi, A.
Right arrow Articles by Kröger, H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Kotaniemi, A.
Right arrow Articles by Kröger, H.

Estimation of Central Osteopenia in Children With Chronic Polyarthritis Treated With Glucocorticoids

Antero Kotaniemi MD1, Anneli Savolainen MD1, Hannu Kautiainen 1, and Heikki Kröger MD, PhD2

1 From the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, Heinola, Finland
2 From the Department of Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

Study objective. To investigate the degree and determinants of osteopenia in juvenile chronic polyarthritis.

Design. Retrospective case-control study of central bone mineral density.

Setting. Rheumatism Foundation Hospital and Kuopio University Hospital, Finland.

Subjects. A sample of 43 girls aged 7 to 19 with juvenile chronic polyarthritis treated with systemic glucocorticoids and a control sample of 44 healthy girls matched for age.

Main outcome measures. Bone mineral density and bone size (width) measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and bone volumetric density calculated as an approximation of true bone density at both the lumbar spine and femoral neck.

Results. The girls with juvenile chronic arthritis had reduced bone mineral density, bone size, and bone volumetric density at both the lumbar spine and femoral neck (statistically significant findings, P = .022 for the bone size of the femoral neck and P < .001 for the other parameters). At the spine, the mean bone mineral density was 80%, the mean bone size 89%, and the mean bone volumetric density 89% of the values in the control group. At the femoral neck, the values were 78%, 93%, and 83%, respectively. The groups were matched for age, but the girls with arthritis were smaller and lighter. In the juvenile arthritis group, the femoral bone mineral density and bone volumetric density and the spinal bone width correlated negatively with the mean glucocorticoid dose.

Conclusion. Axial bone mineral density is clearly reduced in severe juvenile polyarthritis and is mediated by both decreased bone volumetric density and diminished growth.

Key Words: bone mineral density • bone size • juvenile chronic arthritis • glucocorticoids • dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry

Submitted on October 6, 1992
Accepted on December 31, 1992




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
I. Scheunemann, G. E. Dannecker, and J. Roth
Phalangeal bone ultrasound is of limited value in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Rheumatology, September 1, 2006; 45(9): 1125 - 1128.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
S. Rudge, S. Hailwood, A. Horne, J. Lucas, F. Wu, and T. Cundy
Effects of once-weekly oral alendronate on bone in children on glucocorticoid treatment
Rheumatology, June 1, 2005; 44(6): 813 - 818.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]