TY - JOUR T1 - Bone mineral density and turnover in non-corticosteroid treated African American children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 1001 LP - 1003 VL - 33 IS - 5 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 Y1 - 2006/05/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/33/5/1001.abstract N2 - 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. ER -