Efficacy of Denosumab for Osteoporosis in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases

Objective Denosumab, an anti-RANKL monoclonal antibody, was reported to improve bone mineral den-sity (BMD) and reduce fracture risk, offering favorable efficacy against postmenopausal osteoporosis. How-ever, some patients have experienced a reduced BMD despite denosumab therapy. Methods We performed an observational study to clarify the clinical efficacy of denosumab for osteoporo-sis in rheumatic disease patients. Serum levels of bone turnover markers and lumber BMD in 100 rheumatic disease patients were examined at baseline and 6 and 12 months after denosumab therapy. The independent influence of changes in the BMD was examined by multiple regression analyses adjusted for patient charac-teristics and bone turnover markers. Results As bone resorption markers, serum levels of N-telopeptide crosslinked of type I collagen (NTx) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b were statistically decreased after 12 months. As bone formation markers, serum levels of osteocalcin, procollagen type I N-terminal peptide, and bone alkaline phosphatase were significantly decreased after 12 months. The mean BMD was significantly increased after 12 months. However, in 10 patients, the BMD decreased. A multivariate analysis of factors related to BMD changes highlighted a young age, low prednisolone dosage, and reduction in NTx. Conclusions Denosumab increases the BMD to combat osteoporosis in rheumatic disease patients, and po-tential predictors of a better response to denosumab include a young age, reduction in bone turnover markers, and low-dose glucocorticoid use.