Gupta L, et al. - Herein, researchers looked at the frequency and risk factors of asymptomatic vertebral fractures in inflammatory myositis. They reported a high prevalence of asymptomatic vertebral fractures in patients with inflammatory myositis. Furthermore, they observed that gender, age, disease duration, years of corticosteroid intake, body mass index, years post-menopause and Myositis Damage Index had no correlation with the number of fractures.

Methods

• Researchers took dorsal and lumbar spine lateral radiographs for adults with inflammatory myositis and used Genant's semi-quantitative technique for scoring.
• They recorded demographic data, weight, height, postmenopausal status, duration of corticosteroid use, drug intake, co-morbidities and past history of fractures.
• They also used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to assess bone mineral density (BMD).
• Furthermore, they assessed Myositis Damage Index (MDI).
• All results were expressed in median and interquartile range.

Results

• Researchers studied a total of 100 patients (82 female) with myositis of median age 35.5 (28.5–46) years and disease duration 3.0 (1.81–8.0) years.
• Adult dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis, connective tissue disease-associated myositis, and juvenile onset myositis was detected in 35, 26, 31 and 8 patients, respectively.
• Seventeen were postmenopausal women.
• Asymptomatic vertebral fractures were reported in 46 patients and more than one fracture in 19.
• The occurrence of half the fractures was reported in those with disease duration of <5 years.
• Researchers noted that of the 69 fractures, 47 (68.1%), 16 (23.2%) and 6 (8.7%) were mild, moderate and severe, respectively.
• They also observed that the 11th and 12th thoracic vertebrae were together the most commonly (30.4%) affected.
• Osteopenia was present in 62.7% and osteoporosis in 26.9% of the 70 who underwent BMD assessment.
• A negative correlation of T scores of DEXA scan at the lower third of the radius with fracture number (r = -0.27 (-0.50 to -0.005),P=0.04) was observed.
• In addition, findings revealed no correlation of gender, age, disease duration, years of corticosteroid intake, body mass index, years post-menopause and MDI with number of fractures.