Abstract
Changes in metacarpal cortical bone mineral density (BMD) using digital x-ray radiogrammetry were studied in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. After 1, 2, and 5 years, large BMD losses were found: -1.7%, -2.8%, and -5.6%, respectively. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide levels were independent predictors of bone loss, indicating that the largest amount of bone loss was found in patients with severe inflammation and high production of auto-antibodies, who are known to be at the highest risk of developing radiological bone damage. Studies are needed about the spatial and time relationship between erosions and juxta-articular and metacarpal bone loss.
Highlights
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive disorder characterised by synovitis, bone and cartilage degradation of the joints, and extraarticular symptoms
The elegant study by Bøyesen and colleagues [1] in the previous issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy, in which they observed the changes in hand bone mineral density (BMD) using digital x-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) in 163 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is most welcome
After 1, 2, and 5 years of observation, the decreases in hand BMD were –1.7%, –2.8%, and –5.6%, respectively. Elevated levels of both erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide were independent predictors of hand bone loss at all time points, indicating that the largest amounts of bone loss were found in patients with severe inflammation and high levels of auto-antibodies; from earlier data, we know that these patients are prone to develop severe RA with radiological joint damage [2]
Summary
RA is a chronic progressive disorder characterised by synovitis, bone and cartilage degradation of the joints, and extraarticular symptoms. The elegant study by Bøyesen and colleagues [1] in the previous issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy, in which they observed the changes in hand bone mineral density (BMD) using digital x-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) in 163 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is most welcome.
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