Sex hormones in relation to bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in rheumatoid patients

Abstract EN

Objective : to study the changes in serum and salivary testosterone in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and their implication on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers.

Methods : the above mentioned hormonal levels were measured in fifty post-menopausal RA women (thirty patients with glucocorticoid therapy and twenty treated with other drugs).

Bone turnover markers were also assessed namely Carboxyl terminal cross linked telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) and carboxyl terminal propertied of type I precollege (PICP) as well as their relation to BMD was assessed.

Results : Although serum and salivary testosterone were higher than controls, there was no significant difference between patients & controls.

We observed significantly lower salivary testosterone level in RA on steroids as compared to those not taking steroids.

Also salivary testosterone correlated with lumbar BMD and inversely with ICTP.