This Article Full Text (OnlineFirst PDF) All Versions of this Article: 0009922807311732v1 47/5/469    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cohran, V. C. Articles by Heubi, J. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cohran, V. C. Articles by Heubi, J. E. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Bone Mineral Density in Children Exposed to Chronic Glucocorticoid Therapy

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: vcohran{at}childrensmemorial.org.

	Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of glucocorticoid exposure on lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) in children while concurrently measuring their calcium intake, serum 25-OH vitamin D levels, and physical activity. Forty-three patients (4-18 years) with renal glomerular diseases, dermatomyositis, inflammatory bowel disease, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, post–solid organ transplant, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy were studied. All received at least 5 mg per day of prednisone for more than 6 months. The mean BMD z score was 0 ± 0.2 (range, -3.8 to +3.3) with 2 patients (5%) having z scores less than -2. The mean daily calcium intake was 1147 ± 145 g, with 1 patient having hypovitaminosis D (<15 ng/mL). The mean physical activity level was 7.8 ± 0.8 h/wk. The small reductions in BMD observed in our population suggest that screening is likely not warranted in all children with chronic glucocorticoid exposure.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?