[Clinical features of fracture with glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis]

Abstract

Fracture in patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) is occurred despite properly maintained bone mineral density. So the criteria of primary osteoporosis cannot be adapted to GIO. This is caused by the difference of disease's pathology. In glucocorticoid therapy, duration and total volume of dosage of the drug affects bone strength, and then the risk of fracture will be increasing. However, even if low dosage of glucocorticoid is used for the patients, the risk of fracture has increased more than that of normal people. The site of fracture is well recognized in vertebral body, hip joint, rib, and sacrum. While, the fracture in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), one of the disease representing GIO, is observed in all of the body, including long bone and periarticular bone in addition to the site of fracture observed in GIO. The risk of fracture in patients with RA is increased by the glucocorticoid daily use and the functional disability.