Influence of corticosteroids and movement disorder on development of osteoporosis in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS)

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with impaired bone health in comparison to an equally healthy population, even already in patients at the onset of this disease. The main risk factors for development of osteoporosis in MS patients are known. The aim of the study was to find the relationship of the decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) to the administered cumulative dose of steroids and to other risk factors in MS, mainly to the degree of motor deficit. Further goal was to evaluate the occurence of the risk of low-trauma fractures in multiple sclerosis patients.. The BMD and muscle mass was compared in MS patients (women and men) and control subjects, to examine the effect of main ones - physical disability and long-term glucocorticoid (GC) therapy on BMD. Clinical values of bone remodeling markers were evaluated in assessment of rate of bone loss in patients with multiple sclerosis long term treated with low dose of GC. Patients and methods: We used dual -energy X-ray absorptiometry for a measurement of BMD in 591 MS patients (455 females and 136 males) in 2004 and in cross-sectional longitudinal study published in 2014 with 474 patients (353 women and 121 men). Out of the whole study group body composition was evaluated in 250 MS females, 104 males and 247 healthy controls (193..