Background: In juvenile idiopathic arthritis and related chronic inflammatory diseases, proinflammatory cytokines inhibit bone formation and stimulate bone resorption. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as glucocorticoids and nonsteroidal antirheumatic drugs (NSARD) have as a side effect the potential to inhibit growth and maintenance of bone. These issues are of particular importance for the growing skeleton in childhood and adolescence.
Objective: This article presents a narrative overview about the dimension of the problem, a critical evaluation of diagnostic procedures and a discussion of available countermeasures.
Methods: A systematic literature search was carried out and the available evidence was evaluated based on the authors' knowledge and clinical experience as experts in the field.
Results and conclusion: In recent years solid data have been accumulated with respect to the interpretation of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements in children and adolescents. Based on these data from the literature and given that the radiation exposure is also very low, it is now possible to clinically apply BMD measurements in this population using dual energy X‑ray absorption (DXA) technology for risk evaluation and diagnosis, taking the respective phase of development and body length into consideration. Dynamic measurements over time appear to be especially valuable in the context of individual clinical data. Hence, BMD measurements can be helpful in monitoring bone health, especially in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and other related inflammatory diseases. Apart from the specific indications for extended diagnostics and bone targeted pharmacological treatment, this method can also contribute to the management of preventive measures, such as sufficient calcium and vitamin D intake and targeted exercise interventions. Even in times of extremely effective antirheumatic drugs, children with chronic inflammatory diseases still bear a risk for bone health.
Keywords: Anti-inflammatory drugs; Fracture risk; Inflammatory joint diseases; Juvenile idiopathic arthritis; Medicinal prevention.