Iliac crest trabecular bone mass and structure in patients with non-steroid treated rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

SUMMARY Iliac crest trabecular bone volume and structure have been studied in bone biopsy specimens from 48 patients with classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis, none of whom had received steroids. Results were compared with those obtained from healthy controls matched for age and sex. The mean trabecular bone volume in female patients aged 34-50 years was significantly lower than in controls (p<O-O1); in male patients aged 34-5O years values were also lower than those in controls (mean (SD) 17-8 (3.2) v 22*4 (5.6)% total medullary volume), though this difference was not statistically significant. Values in older patients were similar to those of controls. The mean trabecular plate thickness was significantly lower in female patients in all three age groups when compared with the controls (p<0005, 0 05, and 0.005). Similar but non-significant changes were seen in male patients. The mean trabecular plate density, an index of trabecular number, and the mean trabecular plate separation showed no age related change in either male or female patients, in contrast with the female control group, in whom the mean trabecular plate density decreased and separation increased with age. These results suggest that non-steroid treated rheumatoid arthritis is associated with premature bone loss, the structural basis of which is trabecular thinning.

Bone histology of prehistoric inhabitants of the Canary Islands: Comparison between El Hierro and Gran Canaria

“…We have also used, as reference values, those derived from iliac crest specimens of 16 individuals aged 16-49 years who died in the Intensive Care Unit of our Hospital (Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife) of injuries from traffic accidents and were selected as kidney donors. We also used data reported by several investigators (Merz and Schenk, 1969;Meunier et al, 1972;Bordier and Tun Chot, 1969;Courpron et al, 1971;Croucher et al, 1994;Mellish et al, 1987;Dahl et al, 1988;Ballanti et al, 1990). Some of these results are shown in Table 2.…”

Studies on the cell-immunosuppressive mechanism of Oridonin from Isodon serra

“…These pathological changes resulted from a profile of increased plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokines Interleukin-2, which was thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA [9]. Besides, T cells initiated the inflammatory cascade through secretion of IL-2 that was higher in the long-lasting RA [10]. Preliminary studies in our laboratory showed that I. serra extracts inhibited the proliferation of mitogen-stimulated cultures of murine splenic T lymphocytes in vitro.…”

“…IL-2 is mostly produced by mature T lymphocytes and could increase the proliferation of lymphocytes and activate the secretion of lymphokines. It was reported that IL-2 level is increased in blood serum, synovial fluid and lymphocytes serum of arthrosis autoimmune disease patients [9,10]. IFN-γ could increase the identification and submission to autoantigen for inducing T cells.…”

Quantitative MRI for the assessment of bone structure and function

“…Chief among these is the action of corticosteroids in patients treated for chronic inflammatory conditions such as asthma or rheumatoid arthritis, which are known to cause homogeneous thinning of the trabeculae (130). Similarly, cytokines such as TNF-a, which are elevated in rheumatoid arthritis, cause bone loss in the form of TB thinning (131).…”