Background: The present study aimed prospectively to investigate the effect of a combination of tumour necrosis factor inhibitors and bisphosphonates (TNFi with BP) on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone and cartilage biomarkers compared to that of BP alone at 1 year in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: Two groups of patients with RA and osteoporosis were enrolled. One group (37 patients) had already received BP, while the other group (37 patients) had already received TNFi with BP. The serum bone resorption and formation markers, cartilage markers, BMD in the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and distal radius were prospectively investigated at the beginning of the study and at 6 and 12 months.
Results: The percentages of change recorded for the various assessment categories were as follows in the TNFi with BP group: (1) tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b had significantly decreased and osteocalcin had increased; (2) matrix metalloproteinase-3 and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein had significantly decreased; and (3) each BMD did not differ significantly between the groups.
Conclusion: Our data suggested that TNFi with BP therapy not only suppressed cartilage degradation and bone resorption but also increased bone formation; however, this treatment did not affect the BMD at 1 year.
Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis; TNF inhibitors; bisphosphonates; bone mineral density; bone resorption and formation markers.
© Japan College of Rheumatology 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.