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More Than 40% of Scleroderma Patients Have Bone Density Loss, Study Finds. More than 40% of scleroderma patients are diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis and the risk is increased by time from first symptom and with the use of immunosuppressants, a study has found. Scleroderma News, 12/15/2020. (Also see Osteoporosis) This item was posted in the ISN Newsroom. Please check the newsroom daily for updates on scleroderma and other related articles.

Effect of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) on bone structure and strength in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. Despite longer disease duration, bDMARD-treated PsA patients benefit from higher bone mass and better bone strength than PsA patients receiving methotrexate or no DMARDs. PubMed, Arthritis Res Ther, 2019 Jul 3;21(1):162. (Also see Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis and Disease-Modifying Anti_Rheumatic Drugs) This item was posted in the ISN Newsroom. Please check the newsroom daily for updates on scleroderma and other related articles.

When to Get Your Bone Density Tested. Updated guidelines can help women decide when to have bone density screening but may discourage men. New York Times, 07/16/2018. (Also see Osteoporosis) This item was posted in the ISN Newsroom. Please check the newsroom daily for updates on scleroderma and other related articles.

Yesterday was a 12 hour day at my scleroderma center between travel time, tests, and meeting with the specialist. I had my yearly Pulmonary Function Test and afterwards compared my Total Lung Capacity (TLC) and diffusion rate (DCLO or Dsb). They went down: TLC from 78% to 61% and Dsb from 39% to 37%. Then I had my 6 minute walk. Last year I started at 98% on room air and at the end of the test was at 96%, walked 1533 feet and did not desaturate during the test. This year I started at 98%, at 4 minutes dropped to 88%, was given 2 liters of oxygen and at the end of the test was at 92%. I wal