Abstract

This study was carried out to see whether low dose steroid treatment causes osteoporosis in rheumatoid artritis and to determine the effect of various treatment agents on preventing osteoporosis which is due to the use of low dose steroids. This study was performed in 4 groups each of which consisted of 10 rheumatoid arthrit patients. Group I: It is the control group and only NSAI was used in this group, Group 2 in this group low dose steroid (6mg/ d prednisolone) treatment was given, Group 3: In this group, in addition to low dose steroid treatment calcium, D- vitamin, anabolic and calcitonin were given, Group 4: Calcitonin was given in addition to treatment given in group 3. Bone mineral density of all cases was measured using dual photon absorptiometer before treatment and on the third month of the treatment. We concluded that low dose steroid treatment could result in osteoporosis and antiosteoporotic agents such as calcium, vitamin- D, anabolic steroids and calcitonin could be useful in maintaining bone density.