Three-year results of denosumab treatment for osteoporosis in women with rheumatoid arthritis and primary osteoporosis: A clinical observational study

Introduction This study investigated the results of 3 years of denosumab treatment for osteoporosis in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and primary osteoporosis (PO). Materials and methods This study enrolled 112 women with RA (RA group) and 104 women with a PO group who received 60 mg denosumab for 3 years. Bone mineral densitiy (BMD) of the lumbar spine, total hip and femoral neck as well as levels of bone turnover markers [N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRACP-5b)] were measured at years 1, 2, and 3. Results The percent changes (Delta) in BMD values at years 1, 2, and 3 were as follows: RA group: 6.7 +/- 6.2%, 8.9 +/- 6.5%, and 9.8 +/- 8.2% and PO group: 6.0 +/- 4.8%, 8.9 +/- 7.5%, and 12.6 +/- 8.7% for the lumbar spine; RA group: 4.5 +/- 4.6%, 5.2 +/- 5.1%, and 6.8 +/- 5.9% and PO group: 3.8 +/- 4.5%, 4.6 +/- 7.4%, and 6.8 +/- 4.6% for the total hip; and RA group: 2.7 +/- 5.1%, 4.1 +/- 6.8%, and 4.3 +/- 6.7% and PO group: 3.6 +/- 8.0%, 4.5 +/- 10.9%, and 5.7 +/- 10.5% for the femoral neck, respectively. The Delta BMD for the lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck as well as Delta P1NP and Delta TRACP-5b did not differ significantly between the two groups at any time points. Conclusion Denosumab treatment for osteoporosis had a similar efficacy over 3 years among women with RA and PO. A better understanding of denosumab treatment for this patient population is important in clinical practice.