Systemic osteoporosis--major complication of psoriatic arthritis.

OBJECTIVES

Determination of bone mineral density in patients with psoriatic arthritis and its correlation with the development of the disease.

METHODS

Three groups of patients were recruited: group 1--patients with psoriasis arthritis; group 2--patients with rheumatoid arthritis, group 3--control group. Group 1 was divided into: group 1A--patients with disease duration < 5 years and group 1B--patients with disease duration > 5 years. Bone mineral density was determined for total hip by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

RESULTS

In the group 1A BMD values of total femur were between -1.32 and -1.68 DS; in the group 1B BMD values of total femur were between 1B -1.58 and - 1.77DS; in the group 2 BMD values of total femur were between -2.51 and -3.41 DS and in the control group BMD values of total femur were between 0.29 and 1.3 DS. In patients with psoriatic arthritis, the duration of arthritis was negatively correlated with BMD values of total femur. In conclusion, psoriatic patients with longer duration of disease may be at a risk for osteoporosis, which can require preventative treatment efforts.