Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and systemic glucocorticoid use and risk of vertebral fractures in axial spondyloarthropathies: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Somayeh Soroureddin, Ali Baradaran Bagheri, Sepehr Aghajanian et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and systemic glucocorticoids on vertebral fracture (VFx) risk in patients with axial spondyloarthropathy (axSpA). Analyzing data from 17,482 patients, the study found that while DMARDs did not significantly affect VFx risk (RR: 0.93), systemic glucocorticoid use was associated with an increased risk (RR: 1.38).
Key findings
- bDMARDs had no significant effect on VFx risk in axSpA patients (RR: 0.93).
- csDMARD exposure was not related to VFx (RR: 1.01).
- Systemic glucocorticoid use was associated with increased VFx risk (RR: 1.38).
- No significant differences in VFx risk between TNF and IL-17 inhibitors (p-value = 0.753).
Why it matters
Understanding the effects of pharmacological treatments on fracture risk is crucial for managing patients with axSpA. The findings highlight the need for careful consideration of glucocorticoid use and proactive bone health monitoring in this population.