Systemic Lupus Erythematosus as a Risk Factor of Osteoporosis

Overview

In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus a number of risk factors of osteoporosis can beidentified: lower exposure to sunlight, frequent presence of nephropathies, that can be associatedwith secondary hyperparathyroidism, hypogonadism, lower functional capacity, higher cytokinelevels with an osteocatabolic effect, treatment (in particular with corticosteroids, cyclosporinA etc.). The effect of these factors on bone mineral density (BMD) was not exactly evaluated so farand hitherto accomplished studies give conflicting results.

Key words:
systemic lupus erythematosus, bone mineral density, osteoporosis, corticosteroids,