Osteoporosis in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Bone loss in rheumatic disorders is multifactorial. Contributing factors are the inflammatory process per se including inflammatory cytokines, traditional clinical risk factors and drugs with glucocorticoids being the leading cause. Furthermore, autoimmune rheumatic diseases affect women of childbearing age and young men, who may not have attained peak bone mass at the time of diagnosis. As rheumatologists we need to be mindful of these factors and optimise bone health by addressing modifiable factors and timely implement primary prevention.