Osteoporosis: A Common Complication
of Rheumatoid Arthritis

When you think about who’s at risk for osteoporosis, a stereotypical portrait probably comes to mind: a thin Caucasian or Asian woman who’s over age 50. But if you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), add yourself to that picture.

In fact, according to a 2010 study in Arthritis Research & Therapy, people with RA are 1.5 times more likely to experience an osteoporosis-related fracture than those who don’t have RA. The study, which looked at the medical claims records of about 47,000 U.S. residents with RA and 235,000 without it, found that women face the greatest odds, but men are at risk as well. What’s more, the increased risk of fracture is seen across all age groups, although the chances of experiencing a fracture heighten with age. The most likely location of a fracture? The hip, followed by the pelvis, thighbone and wrist.

What raises the risk? Although scientists are still trying to sort out why people with RA are more likely to develop osteoporosis than others, they do know some of the factors that heighten risk.

• Disease activity. In addition to the joint damage that the disease’s chronic inflammation may cause, RA itself appears to trigger bone loss in the affected joint as well as other bones throughout the body. Some studies suggest that proteins that control inflammation (cytokines) also regulate cells called osteoclasts that are responsible for breaking down bone.

• Corticosteroids. These medications are frequently prescribed to slow the progress of RA. Examples of medications in this category include prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone and cortisone. Unfortunately, corticosteroids (also called glucocorticoids) jump-start bone loss by suppressing bone formation and increasing bone breakdown. They also interfere with the way the body uses calcium and lower the levels of sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone), both of which add to bone loss. Although short-term use doesn’t appear harmful to bones, anyone taking corticosteroids for more than three months raises his or her risk of osteoporosis.

• Lack of exercise. The pain and damage caused by RA can limit both your ability and your desire to exercise. But making the effort to do some exercise is important: The tug of muscles on bones whenever you move strengthens your bones.

 

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Another email blast from Johns Hopkins that I’ve shamelessly copied and redistributed.  At least I’ve copied the Copyright.  I do not nor ever will claim authorship, ownership, or attempt to redistribute for personal profit or gain the contents of this particular post.

Too much expert litigation work with attorneys.  Can you tell?