RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Deflazacort versus prednisone in patients with giant cell arteritis: effects on bone mass loss. JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 2474 OP 2479 VO 28 IS 11 A1 P Cacoub A1 K Chemlal A1 P Khalifa A1 B Wechsler A1 C De Gennes A1 N Belmatoug A1 P Cohen A1 J M Ziza A1 B Verdoncq A1 J C Piette YR 2001 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/28/11/2474.abstract AB OBJECTIVE: To compare bone mass loss due to deflazacort versus prednisone in longterm treatment of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) in a randomized double blind comparative trial. METHODS: Seventy-four patients were included in a prospective multicenter study. Half received deflazacort (DFZ) and the other half prednisone (PR) for a minimum of 12 months. Calcium and vitamin D supplements were also provided to all subjects. Our intent was (1) to evaluate bone mineral density, using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, at baseline and comparatively at 3, 6, and 12 mo; vertebral fractures by Meunier score and size variations after 12 mo treatments were also analyzed; (2) to assess calcium/phosphate metabolism modifications in both groups at baseline and after 12 mo. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups in terms of treatment efficacy. Patients taking PR were slightly older on average versus the DFZ group (74 vs 70 yrs). Bone mass loss between entry and month 12 was not statistically different in the PR group (-0.026 +/- 0.007 g/cm2) compared to the DFZ group (-0.03 +/- 0.005 g/cm2). No significant difference was found in Meunier score variations (0.77 and 1.18 in the PR and DFZ groups, respectively; p = 0.3), nor in vertebral size variations (-0.4 and -0.2 in the PR and DFZ groups, respectively; p = 0.4). There was no difference in calcium/phosphate metabolism evaluations at month 12. CONCLUSION: In older patients taking longterm glucocorticoids who are at risk of osteoporosis, deflazacort did not result in less bone loss than prednisone.