Quantifying Bone Disease in Pediatric Rheumatic Patients and It’s Problems

Abstract

It is well known, that, due to different reasons, children with rheumatic diseases as well as children with other chronic inflammatory diseases suffer from bone disease like osteopenia or osteoporosis. To measure bone mineral density (BMD) or bone mineral content (BMC), Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) is used as golden standard. In this review we will show several problems appearing in measuring bone density in children due to multiple reasons, discuss the necessity to have a closer look on bone and muscle as well as on length and bone age on the examined child and end with the few recommendations there are concerning bone disease in pediatric rheumatology patients.