Bone mineral density and some physiological changes in rheumatoid arthritis patients

الملخص EN

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA),was relatively common disease with many extra articular manifestations; one of these manifestations was osteoporosis which is well-known complication of rheumatoid arthritis ,related to disease activity, that may occur by RA itself or as a side effect to pharmacological treatment.The study was designated to estimatedifference in bone mineral density results between patients with RA and control group.The cross-sectional/control study was conducted in rheumatology unit in Marjan teaching hospital in AL-Hilla city / Babylon / Iraq from 12th ∕ November / 2012 to 31th ∕ May / 2013.

The total number of subjects involved in this study was 184 (120 patients and 64 apparently healthy persons as control).

Bone mineral density results were significantly lower in RA patients than in control group.

The study revealed that osteoporosis was common in RA patientsandbone loss in RA was an ongoing phenomenon which continues despite anti-inflammatory treatment with DMARD