Bone turnover and hip bone mineral density in patients with sarcoidosis

Background and aim of the work: Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory T-cell-driven disease can also affect bone. We evaluated bone remodelling and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with coidosis and their dependency of disease-related and treatment-related factors. Methods: In 124 BMD of the hip (DXA) and markers of bone resorption (ICTP) and formation (PINP) were evaluated. thermore a lateral DXA of the spine for morphometric assessment of vertebral deformities was performed 87 patients. Potential predictors of bone markers, BMD and determinants of prevalent vertebral were assessed using multiple and logistic regression analysis. Results: The population studied comprised treated patients (n = 51), patients that previously used glucocorticoids (n = 31) and patients currently glucocorticoids (n = 42). In all these groups the age- and gender corrected Z-scores of the hip were except in untreated patients, which revealed an increased Z-score at the trochanter (p = 0.004). In all but patients currently on glucocorticoids the Z-scores for PINP and ICTP were increased (p <0.05). In currently on glucocorticoids the Z-ICTP was also increased (p <0.05), but the Z-PINP decreased (p <compared to untreated patients). In 20.6% of patients one or more morphometric vertebral deformities found. Conclusions: Hip BMD is normal in patients with sarcoidosis, despite an increased bone turnover. may imply that in sarcoidosis mechanisms are involved that compensate for the well-known effects of tokines in inflammatory diseases on osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. Nonetheless, vertebral ties suggestive of fracture were found in a significant number of patients which indicates that patients sarcoidosis still have a relevant fracture risk.