Evaluation by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of bone mineral density in children with juvenile chronic arthritis.

Abstract

A decrease in bone mineral density was found in 50-60% of all the JCA patients in this series, regardless of the disease subtype. Corticosteroid use apparently had an effect on the BMD in the trabecular bone. The data also show a correlation between the loss of BMD in both cortical and trabecular bone and a long disease duration.