Objectives To examine the association of C ? reactive protein (CRP) on bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone turnover in osteoporosis patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods Out of the 60 female patients with proved diagnosis of RA aged 34–64 years.; Gr. 1: 30 women with preserved menstrual cycle (median age 41,5 years, disease duration 9,5 years, rheumatoid factor positive 80%). Gr. 2: 30 women with postmenopause. (median age 56,2 years, disease duration 10,2 years, rheumatoid factor positive 83,3%). Both groups have not undergone any glucocorticoid or antiosteporodic therapy. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured with a ?QDR Hologic 1000 plus? by Dual Energy X -Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) method, for the lumbar spine and in proximal segments of the femur. Concentration of CRP, bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and deoxypyridinoline (Dpir) was studded by immunoensymatic method.

Results In gr.1 of RA patients by with increase of concentration (CRP) > 50 mg/l reliable decrease of BMD was determined in all studied sections of proximal segment of the femur, as compared with patients with CRB £ 50 mg/l level, and in gr. 2 similar change was observed only in BMD L1-L4. Negative correlation between CRB and BMD femoral neck (r = -0,53, ð < 0,005) in RA patients of gr. 2, and in gr.1 with CRB and BMD of femoral neck (r = -0.5, ð < 0,01) was revealed. Direct significant correlation between the level of Dpir and CRP has be revealed in both groups (r = 0,46, ð = 0,04 and r = 0,51, ð = 0,02 relatively). Reliable correlation between BMD L1-L4 and CRP, also between BAP and CRP was not revealed.

Conclusion Increase of CRB concentration in RA correlated with growing of bone resorption markers and decrease of BMD of femoral neck.