The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and associations of reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and quantitative ultrasound parameters of the heel (BUA, SOS) with glucocorticoids and methotrexate treatment in premenopausal women who were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis according to ARA revised criteria from 1987. We also determined the prevalence of vertebral fractures using DXA method of vertebral fracture assessment according to Genant criteria.
In conclusion, we pointed out that in premenopausal RA women on stable low dose of glucocorticoids and low dose of methotrexate, osteoporosis and vertebral fractures in short perspective of the disease and without other risk of fractures are not significant. Antiresorptive osteoporosis treatment should be limited only to those patients who have minimum 10% risk of any fracture based on the calculation proposed by the Polish Society of Osteoarthrology and Polish Foundation on Osteoporosis.