Frequency of Low Bone Mineral Density and Osteoporosis in a Cohort of Egyptian Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Background: several studies have found an increase in bone loss and risk of fracture in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Objectives: To determine the frequency of low bone mineral density and osteoporosis in a cohort of Egyptian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and their relation to disease activity. Patients and Methods: This is a cross sectional study which was carried out on 60 patients fulfilling SLICC classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematous. All patients were attending the Rheumatology Outpatient Results: Mean values of lumbar spine, femoral neck BMD were 1.0 ± 0.15 and 0.9 ± 0.15 g/cm2, respectively, with mean T-score values at each site of -1.4 ± 1.3 and -0.8 ± 1.0, the frequency of osteopenia among the studied 60 SLE patients was 40.0% and the frequency of osteoporosis was 25.0%. Conclusion: We found that there is increased frequency of low bone mineral density and osteoporosis among SLE patients.