PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Andrew J Head
AU  - Linda K Myers
AU  - Mitchell A Watsky
AU  - Mark W Greenwell
AU  - Karen D Barrow
AU  - Jean A Michelson
AU  - Laura D Carbone
TI  - Bone mineral density and turnover in non-corticosteroid treated African American children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
DP  - 2006 May 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - 1001--1003
VI  - 33
IP  - 5
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/33/5/1001.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/33/5/1001.full
SO  - J Rheumatol2006 May 01; 33
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), Z scores, and markers of bone turnover in African American children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). METHODS: Eight children with JRA with no prior exposure to corticosteroids were evaluated. Lumbar spine (L1-L4) and total body and total hip BMC and BMD were determined using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and Z scores (BMD) were calculated. Serum samples of markers of bone turnover including pyridinoline (PYR), N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP), osteocalcin (OC), and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) were measured. RESULTS: The mean Z score (BMD) at the lumbar spine (L1-L4) in patients with JRA was -1.2+/-0.8. Z scores for total body and total hip were within 1 standard deviation of normal compared with healthy historical controls matched for age, sex, and race. CONCLUSION: BMD was normal for chronological age (defined as Z score >or= 2.0) in African American children with JRA who had not previously been treated with corticosteroids. Further studies are needed on the effects of JRA on skeletal health in African American children.