Glucocorticoids are widely used because of their important andefficacious immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory properties.However, glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, a major adverseevent, is a common clinical problem. The risk of osteoporosiswith glucocorticoid therapy remains unclear, but the diseasehas been reported to occur in up to 50% of patients who requirelong-term therapy. Fractures can occur rapidly, with a predilectionfor sites that are rich in trabecular bone, such as the spineand ribs.
There are few prospective epidemiologic data regarding fracturesand their association with glucocorticoid-induced bone loss,but a large, retrospective cohort study of patients receivingglucocorticoids who . . . [Full Text of this Article]
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From the Kolling Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney.
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