Effectiveness of the treatment with intravenous pamidronate in children with rheumatic diseases

Materials and methods Retrospective analytical study: 22 children, ages between the 4 and 17 years and clinical diagnosis of osteopenia, osteoporosis, calcinosis secondary to rheumatic diseases (Juvenile Idiopatic Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Juvenile Dermatomiositis, Overlap Syndrome, Panarteritis Nodosa, Familiar Mediterranean Fever). Criteria of inclusion: the patients had to fulfill the criteria of osteopenia and osteoporosis defined according to z-score or bone mineral density; and the diagnostic criteria of the referred diseases. Information about the underlaying disease, the treatment received and steroids' dose and duration was collected. The administration of intravenous pamidronate was made according to the protocol established by Glorieux et al.