Bone turnover markers and their relation to disease activity and corticosteroid therapy in ra

Abstract EN

Aim od Work: To examine the relation between urinary deoxypyridinoline excretion (DPD) as a parameter of bone turnover and disease activity as well as the dosage of corticosteroid therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methodology: Twenty patients (3 males and 17 females) suffering from RA according to ACR criteria were included in this study.

Full clinical examination and estimation of urinary deoxy-pyridinoline(DPD) excretion with ELISA was done.

Ten healthy persons were included representing the control group.

Results: There was a significant correlation between urinary DPD excretion and parameter of disease activity as total joint score (p<0.001), tender joints (p<0.05), painful joints (p<0.05), limited range of motion (p<0.05), elevated ESR (p<0.001) low serum HB (p<0.001) .

But no significant correlation between was found between urinary DPD and the dose of corticosteroid therapy.

Conclusion: The rate of bone resorption in RA patients as proved by increased urinary DPD excretion is more with active RA.

So, they are at higher risk to have osteoporosis.

The effect of disease activity on bone turnover is more significant than the dose of corticosteroid therapy.