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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research article

Bone mineral density by digital X-ray radiogrammetry is strongly decreased and associated with joint destruction in long-standing Rheumatoid Arthritis: a cross-sectional study

Authors: Helena Forsblad-d'Elia, Hans Carlsten

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Background

The aims were to explore bone mineral density (BMD) by digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) in postmenopausal women with long-lasting rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in relation to dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-BMD, joint destruction by conventional radiographs and disease related variables in a cross-sectional study.

Methods

Seventy-five postmenopausal women with RA were examined by DXA measuring DXA-BMD of the forearm, total hip and lumbar spine, by scoring joint destruction on plain radiographs by the method of Larsen and by DXR-BMD in metacarpals two to four. The DXR-BMD results of the RA women were compared with an age and sex-matched reference database. A function of DXR-BMD in relation to age and disease duration was created. Associations were investigated by bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses.

Results

DXR-BMD was strongly decreased in RA patients compared to the reference database (p < 0.001). Calculations showed that DXR-BMD was not markedly influenced the first years after diagnosis of RA, but between approximately 5-10 years of disease there was a steep decline in DXR-BMD which subsequently levelled off. In multiple regression analyses disease duration, CRP and DXR-BMD were independent variables associated with Larsen score (R2= 0.64). Larsen score and BMD forearm were independent determinants of DXR-BMD (R2 = 0.79).

Conclusions

DXR-BMD was strongly reduced and associated with both Larsen score and DXA-BMD forearm in these postmenopausal women with RA implying that DXR-BMD is a technique that reflects both the erosive process and bone loss adjacent to affected joints.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Bone mineral density by digital X-ray radiogrammetry is strongly decreased and associated with joint destruction in long-standing Rheumatoid Arthritis: a cross-sectional study
Authors
Helena Forsblad-d'Elia
Hans Carlsten
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-12-242

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