Bone mineral density and turnover in non-corticosteroid treated African American children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Journal of rheumatology 2006-05, Vol.33 (5), p.1001-1003
• Main Authors: HEAD, Andrew J, MYERS, Linda K, WATSKY, Mitchell A, GREENWELL, Mark W, BARROW, Karen D, MICHELSON, Jean A, CARBONE, Laura D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Adolescent; African Americans; Alkaline Phosphatase - blood; Amino Acids - blood; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use; Arthritis, Juvenile - drug therapy; Arthritis, Juvenile - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Bone Density; Bones, joints and connective tissue. Antiinflammatory agents; Child; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Hip Joint; Humans; Inflammatory joint diseases; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Lumbar Vertebrae; Male; Medical sciences; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Osteocalcin - blood; Peptide Fragments - blood; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Procollagen - blood; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry
• ISSN: 0315-162X; 1499-2752

OBJECTIVE: To determine bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), Z scores, and markers of bone turnover in African American children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). METHODS: Eight children with JRA with no prior exposure to corticosteroids were evaluated. Lumbar spine (L1-L4) and total body and total hip BMC and BMD were determined using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and Z scores (BMD) were calculated. Serum samples of markers of bone turnover including pyridinoline (PYR), N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP), osteocalcin (OC), and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) were measured. RESULTS: The mean Z score (BMD) at the lumbar spine (L1-L4) in patients with JRA was -1.2+/-0.8. Z scores for total body and total hip were within 1 standard deviation of normal compared with healthy historical controls matched for age, sex, and race. CONCLUSION: BMD was normal for chronological age (defined as Z score >or= 2.0) in African American children with JRA who had not previously been treated with corticosteroids. Further studies are needed on the effects of JRA on skeletal health in African American children.