Skip to main content
Log in

Bone mineral density in ankylosing spondylitis

  • Originals
  • Published:
Clinical Rheumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Vertebral osteoporosis is a well-recognized feature of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and also the vertebral compression fractures due to osteoporosis are a common but frequently unrecognized complication of AS. Both may contribute to the pathogenesis of spinal deformity and back pain. The aim of this study was to measure vertebral and femoral neck bone mass in patients with AS by dual photon absorptiometry, to determine the prevalence of compression fractures and to examine the relationship between bone density and disease severity. We found that the bone mass was diminished in the lumbar spine in moderate AS versus mild forms but the patients with advanced disease had the highest BMD values. Examination of spinal radiographs revealed compression and biconcave fractures in 9 (40.9%) cases. Neither the duration of the disease and the degree of sacroiliitis, nor the disease activity assessed by laboratory and clinical parameters was found to significantly affect the results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ralston, S.H., Urquhart, G.D.K., Brzeski, M., Sturrock, R.D. Prevalence of vertebral compression fractures due to osteoporosis in ankylosing spondylitis. Br Med J 1990, 300, 563–565.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hunte, T., Dubo, H. Spinal fractures complicating ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Int Med 1978, 88, 546–549.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Devogelaer, J.P., Maldague, B., Malghem, J., Deuxchaisnes, C.N. Appendicular and vertebral bone mass in ankylosing spondylitis. Arthritis Rheum 1992, 35, 9, 1062–1067.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Raisz, L.G. Local and systemic factors in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 1988, 318, 818–828.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Franck, H., Keck, E. Serum osteocalcin and vitamin D metabolities in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Rheum Dis 1993, 52, 343–346.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bennett, P.H., Burch, T.A. New York symposium on population studies in the rheumatic disease: new diagnostic criteria. Bull Rheum Dis 1967, 17, 453–458.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Macrae, I.F., Haslock, D.I., Wright, V. Grading of films for sacroiliitis in population studies. Ann Rheum Dis 1971, 30, 58–66.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hurxthal, L.M. Measurement of anterior vertebral compressions and biconcave vertebrae. Radiology 1968, 103, 635–644.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Reid, D.M., Nicoll, J.J., Kennedy, N.S.J., Smith, M.A., Tothill, P., Nuki, G. Bone mass in ankylosing spondylitis. J Rheumatol 1986, 13, 932–935.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Devogelaer, J.P., Dufour, J.P., Huaux, J.P., Deuxchaisnes, N.C. Appendicular and spinal bone mass in ankylosing spondylitis. Clin Rheumatol 1984, 3, 105.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Will, R., Bhalla, A.K., Palmer, R., Ring, R., Calin, A. Osteoporosis in early ankylosing spondylitis: a primary pathological event? Lancet 1989, II, 1483–1485.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Donnelly, S., Doyle, D.V., Denton, A., Rolf, I., McCloskey, E.V., Spector, T.D. Bone mineral density and vertebral compression fracture rates in ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Rheum Dis 1994, 53, 117–121.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. McCloskey, E.V., Spector, T.D., Eyers, K.S., Fern, D.E., O'Rourke, N., Vasikaran, S., Kanis, J.A. The assessment of vertebral deformity: a method for use in population studies and clinical trials. Osteoporosis Int 1993, 3, 138–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Dilsen, N. Romatizmal hastaliklarda vertebral osteoporoz hakkinda. Türk Tip Cemiyeti Mecmuasi. 1964, 30, 362–370.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sivri, A., Kilinç, S., Gökçe-Kutsal, Y. et al. Bone mineral density in ankylosing spondylitis. Clin Rheumatol 15, 51–54 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02231685

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02231685

Key words

Navigation