Bone Mineral Density in Female Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in seventy-seven females with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). BMD in RA patients decreased with increasing age, especially after menopause. There was no statistical correlation between the duration of disease and BMD. BMD of the femoral necks decreased according to the stage and class of RA, although the rate of decrease was low.