Glucocorticoids Are Not Associated with Bone Mineral Density in Patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Giant Cell Arteritis and Other Vasculitides-Cross-Sectional Baseline Analysis of the Prospective Rh-GIOP Cohort.

In this cohort of PMR and vasculitides, we found a similar prevalence of OP by DXA to the overall elderly German population. Vitamin D supplementation was very common, and vitamin D insufficiency was less frequent than expected in Germans. There was no association between current or cumulative GC intake, CRP and impaired bone density. Proton-pump inhibitors seem to be a major, but somewhat neglected, risk factor for OP and should be given more attention. Our findings require confirmation from longitudinal analyses of the Rh-GIOP and other cohorts.