Bone mineral density status and the need for anti-osteoporotic therapy in postmenopausal women with systemic scleroderma

The article is devoted to the study of bone mineral density in patients with systemic scleroderma (SSD) and the identification of persons, who needs the anti-osteoporotic treatment. A total of 170 postmenopausal women were examined: 103 patients with SSD and 67 patients without inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Osteoporosis (OP) was detected in 49.5% in the patient group and in 31% in the control group (p <0.05). The correlation relation between the bone mineral density (BMD) and body mass index was found to be direct, and the one between BMD and the duration of the disease and the cumulative dose of glucocorticoids was found to be inverse. The blood vitamin D level (25(OH)D) was significantly lower in patients than in controls (19.3 ± 7.4 ng/ml and 23.3 ± 8.6 ng/ml, respectively), and among individuals with SSD it was significantly lower in patients with OP than in patients without OP (p <0.05). 85% examined patients with SSD needed the anti-osteoporotic therapy. Treatment with the generic alendronate in the form of effervescent tablets to prepare Binosto buffer solution was effective and safe in patients with SSD with esophageal hypotension