Prevalence of fragility fractures in women with SLE, their connexion with the course of the disease and the nature of pharmacotherapy

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of osteoporosis and fragility fractures in the Ukrainian systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and to establish their connection with the course of the disease. The main study group involved 91 women with a diagnosis of SLE according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria. In patients with SLE the prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) and fragility fractures is high. Progressive loss of the BMD and the occurrence of osteoporotic fractures are closely associated with the severity of organ damage and glucocorticoids use.