Low-Dose Prednisone Induces Rapid Reversible Axial Bone Loss in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized, Controlled Study

Objective: To determine the effects of a short course of a low dose of a glucocorticoid agent on bone mass. Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study. Setting: Outpatient clinic of a university hospital. Patients: Forty patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Intervention: All patients started receiving intramuscular gold salts. In addition, they were randomly allocated to receive either prednisone or placebo. The initial dose was 10 mg/d, which was tapered between weeks 12 and 20. Thereafter, patients were followed for an additional 24 weeks. Measurements: Lumbar bone mineral density was measured with dual-energy, quantitative computed tomography in a trabecular and a cortical region of interest