Vol.23 No.4

Original Article

Prevalence and risk factors of vertebral fracture in female Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Authors

Makio Furukawa1 , Chikako Kiyohara2 , Takahiko Horiuchi1 , Hiroshi Tsukamoto1 , Hiroki Mitoma1 , Yasutaka Kimoto1 , Ayumi Uchino1 , Misato Nakagawa1 , Kensuke Oryoji1 , Terufumi Shimoda3 , Mine Harada4 , Koichi Akashi1

  • Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
  • Department of Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
  • Department of Clinical Research, Fukuoka National Hospital, 4-39-1 Yakatabaru, Minami-ku, Fukuoka 811-1394, Japan
  • Omuta National Hospital, 1044-1 Tachibana, Omuta 837-0911, Japan
Received:

8 March 2012

Accepted:

30 July 2012

Published online:

19 August 2012

Full Text

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Abstract

Objective We examined the prevalence and risk factors of vertebral fracture in female Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods We performed lateral radiographs of the thoracic and lumbar spine and bone mineral density (BMD) measurements and collected demographic, lifestyle, clinical, and treatment characteristics of 52 SLE patients.
Vertebral fractures were defined as a[20 % reduction of vertebral body height. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were computed to assess the strength of associations between vertebral fractures and selected factors among SLE patients.
Results At least one vertebral fracture was detected in 50 % of SLE patients. A history of previous bone fracture was significantly associated with an increased risk of vertebral fractures among SLE patients (adjusted OR = 14.8, 95 % CI = 1.62?134; P = 0.017). Daily use of tea or coffee was marginally associated with a decreased risk of vertebral fractures among SLE patients (adjusted OR = 0.11, 95 % CI = 0.01?1.01; P = 0.051).
Conclusion The high prevalence of vertebral fracture in SLE patients (50 %) indicates that we need to assess the lateral spine radiograph in more female Japanese SLE patients regardless of BMD and use of corticosteroids, although additional studies are warranted to confirm the findings suggested in this study.

Key words

Vertebral fracture, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Japanese