| Objective To analyze the risk factors associated with low bone mineral density in postmenopausal patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods A total of 106 postmenopausal women with active RA were studied. Patients were grouped by body mass index (BMI): group I was lean (18.5-24.9 kg/m2,n=36), group II was overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2, n=35), group III was obese (>30.0 kg/m2, n=35). The femoral BMD and serum levels of BTMs: osteocalcin (OC), collagen type I cross-linked C-telopeptide fragments (CTX), osteopontin (OPN), resistin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a)were measured in these patients. Results Femoral BMD and total T-score were significantly higher in obese women than in lean subjects (P<0.05). BMD and CTX levels were significantly associated with body mass parameters (P<0.05, respectively). After adjusting femoral neck BMD, BMI was negatively associated with the TNF-a levels (P<0.05). Osteocalcin level was negatively correlated with resistin (P<0.05). CTX level was positively correlated with OPN (P<0.05). There were associations between BTM and BMD and other inflammatory indices. OPN was negatively correlated with body weight (P<0.05), waist circumference(P<0.05), and duration of postmenopausal period (P<0.05). Conclusion The present study suggests that body weight, OPN, resistin, and TNF-a play an important role in lowering BMD in postmenopausal women with active RA. |