Identification of predictors of bone mineral density trajectories in pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients

Results Females constituted 84% of the cohort with a median age at diagnosis of 13.1 years. The mean LS BMD zscores decreased with time. Initially, 9% of patients had a low BMD, this proportion increased to 19% by 3 years after diagnosis. Overall, the BMD category decreased in 35% of patients from 1 to 3rd DEXA study. LS BMD followed a general deteriorating trajectory of -0.25 z-score/year from diagnosis. Body mass index (BMI) z-score and cumulative steroid dose were the best predictors of BMD trajectories over time. Conclusions The LS BMD of pSLE patients decreased at a rate of 0.25 z-score/year. BMI z-score and cumulative doses of steroids modified the trajectories of LS BMD. These factors are potentially modifiable targets that can improve individual patient’s BMD trajectory.