Antimalarial Helps Prevent Bone Loss in Women With Lupus

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Antimalarial Helps Prevent Bone Loss in Women With Lupus

WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Feb 23 - The antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine

appears to have an unexpected benefit in protecting against low bone mineral

density (BMD) and osteoporosis in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

" The current recommendations are that [hydroxychloroquine] should be used in

nearly all patients with lupus since it has been shown to control the disease, "

study director Dr. Naomi Rothfield, of the University of Connecticut Health

Center in Farmington, told Reuters Health. " Our findings support these

recommendations. "

Dr. Rothfield and colleagues studied 92 female patients with SLE to identify

factors associated with low BMD in this population. After adjustment for

multiple factors, increased risk of low BMD was predicted by Caucasian race, an

increased number of pregnancies, a higher cumulative dose of corticosteroids,

postmenopausal status and a higher SLE Damage Index.

Unexpectedly, the 68% of women who used hydroxychloroquine appeared to be

protected against bone loss at the hip and spine, at least partially. In fact,

use of the drug was also associated with lower rates of osteopenia and

osteoporosis of the spine.

The study is the first to describe a protective effect of hydroxychloroquine on

bone loss in this population, Dr. Rothfield and her team say in the January

issue of the Journal of Rheumatology. " The reason for this association is

unclear, " they write, noting that alendronate use, vitamin D supplementation,

and calcium supplementation do not appear to be factors.

Dr. Rothfield advised that " all lupus patients taking corticosteroids should be

followed carefully by their physicians for osteoporosis and osteopenia and

treated if necessary. "

J Rheumatol 2001;28:102-108.