Bone mineral density in patients with recently diagnosed, active rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVES: Osteoporosis is a well-known extra-articular phenomenon in patients with uncontrolled, long-standing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the present study, the extent of osteoporosis and reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and the disease-related and demographic factors that are associated with osteoporosis and reduced BMD were examined in patients with recently diagnosed, active RA. METHODS: BMD of the total hip and the lumbar spine was measured using dual-energy x ray absorptiometry in 381 patients with recently diagnosed active RA, who had never been treated with DMARDs or corticosteroids. Osteoporosis was defined as a T score