Bone metabolism in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Plasma and urinary indexes of bone metabolism were studied in 36 children affected by juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) during 1 year, in order to evaluate the calciotropic hormone levels and bone mass. Children were divided in three groups according to the subtype of JRA: pauciarticular, polyarticular, systemic. Patients of the latter two groups were on corticosteroid treatment. A control group of healthy children (matched for age and sex) was compared. Children affected by pauciarticular disease did not show any difference with respect to controls. In the polyarticular and systemic groups, basal observation revealed decreased levels of 25(OH)D, significantly lower ( P