BACKGROUND: Chronic corticosteroid (CS) use is associated with bone mass loss. METHODS: @entity79 ( @entity79 ) was assessed in 72 @entity1 (25 males/47 premenopausal females) with @entity8 , primary (n = 35) or secondary to @entity1252 (n = 37) with normal renal function, who were taking CS, as @entity229 and/or @entity1667 , in doses > or =7.5 mg/day, for a period of at least 6 months. Cumulative dose and duration of prior CS therapy, as well as biochemical parameters and other factors contributing to @entity604 were evaluated. RESULTS: We found 37 (52%) @entity1 with LOW @entity79 (29 with @entity2331 and 8 with @entity170 ). The low @entity79 group presented a lower mean weight and body mass index (BMI) versus the normal @entity79 group (62 +/- 15 vs. 70 +/- 10 kg and 25 +/- 4 vs. 27 +/- 5, mean +/- SD, p < 0.05). The estimated @entity460 intake was lower than 400 mg/day in all @entity1 with low @entity79 , and they had taken @entity1483 as a concomitant drug for a longer mean period of time when compared to normal @entity79 @entity1 (30 +/- 29 vs. 16 +/- 27 months, p < 0.05). A higher mean number of pulses per @entity1 and mean cumulative dose of @entity1667 were observed in the low versus normal @entity79 group (7.7 +/- 4.0 vs. 5.6 +/- 4.0 pulses and 6.5 +/- 3.9 vs. 3.9 +/- 2.7 g, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a high frequency of @entity2331 among young and premenopausal @entity1 with @entity8 given long-term corticosteroid therapy. The lower BMI and @entity460 intake, as well as the concomitant @entity1483 use, might have contributed to such a @entity604 . The higher number of pulse therapies leading to higher cumulative intravenous doses of corticosteroid mainly in @entity1988 @entity1 shows that pulse therapy may be deleterious to bone.

@entity2331 in XXXX with @entity8 requiring long-term corticosteroid therapy.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity1667 :: ('MESH:D008775', 'Chemical') :: ['methylprednisolone'] @entity8 :: ('MESH:D007674', 'Disease') :: ['glomerular diseases'] @entity229 :: ('MESH:D011241', 'Chemical') :: ['prednisone'] @entity604 :: ('MESH:D016301', 'Disease') :: ['bone loss'] @entity170 :: ('MESH:D010024', 'Disease') :: ['osteoporosis'] @entity1252 :: ('MESH:D008180', 'Disease') :: ['systemic lupus erythematosus'] @entity1483 :: ('MESH:D005665', 'Chemical') :: ['furosemide'] @entity1988 :: ('MESH:D008181', 'Disease') :: ['lupus nephritis'] @entity79 :: ('MESH:D001847', 'Disease') :: ['Bone mineral density', 'BMD'] @entity2331 :: ('MESH:D001851', 'Disease') :: ['osteopenia'] @entity460 :: ('MESH:D002118', 'Chemical') :: ['calcium']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
