Vitamin D and rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of asymptomatic vertebral fractures (VF) and the lack of vitamin D (VD) in patients with osteoporosis (OP) who are overweight (OW) or obese (O).Material and methods: 66 female patients, average age 67.6 years with OP diagnosed by DXA on lumbar spine (LS). They were questioned about history of VF. Exclusion criteria: liver or renal disease or treated with corticosteroids, anticonvulsants and anticoagulants. We performed lateral thoracic and LS X-ray. VF was considered with a 20% decreased. Body mass index (BMI) of OW was 25–30 and for O, BMI was over 30. Vitamin 25(OH) D was measured by RIA, DiaSorin kit, divided into 30 ng/ml. VF were also found in patients who had low VD. 80.3% (53/66) were OW, average age 67.6 years of which 15.09% (8/53) had VF. 43.4% (23/53) had values 30 ng/ml. 5 of the patients with VF had values <30 ng/ml. 15% had VF and 90% (9/10) had levels lower values 30 ng/ml for VD. Conclusion: Patients who were O or OW may have OP and VF, have VD deficient values. It is important to assess VD deficiency, which may contribute to decreased bone mass and VF. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled AAOMM 2011 Abstracts.