An investigation of the differential therapeutic effects of romosozumab on postmenopausal osteoporosis patients with or without rheumatoid arthritis complications: a case-control study

Osteoporos Int. 2024 May;35(5):841-849. doi: 10.1007/s00198-024-07019-2. Epub 2024 Jan 31.

Abstract

The impact of ROMO on the width of anabolic windows and the increase in BMD was reduced in the RA group compared to the non-RA group, and this reduction was associated with correlations to RA-related factors.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of romosozumab (ROMO) in postmenopausal osteoporosis, with and without comorbid rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: In this retrospective, case-controlled, multicenter study, 171 postmenopausal patients who did not receive oral glucocorticoid, comprising 59 in the RA group and 121 in the non-RA group, received uninterrupted ROMO treatment for 12 months. Propensity score matching was employed to ensure comparability in clinical backgrounds, resulting in 41 patients in each group. Baseline characteristics were as follows: overall (mean age, 76.3 years; T-score of lumbar spine (LS), - 3.0; 45.1% were treatment-naive for osteoporosis); RA group (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) positivity, 80.5%; titer, 206.2 U/ml; clinical disease activity index (CDAI), 13.6; health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI), 0.9). Bone mineral density (BMD) and serum bone turnover markers were monitored over a 12-month period.

Results: The rate of increase in the bone formation marker, PINP, and the rates of decrease in the bone resorption marker, TRACP-5b, exhibited a trend toward smaller changes in the RA group compared to the non-RA group, implying a smaller anabolic window. After 12 months, the RA group displayed lower BMD increases in the LS (9.1% vs. 12.6%; P = 0.013) and total hip (2.4% vs. 4.8%; P = 0.025) compared to the non-RA group. Multiple regression analysis in the all RA group (n = 59) for the association between RA-specific factors and 12-month BMD changes revealed negative correlations between ACPA titer and LS BMD and between HAQ-DI and femoral neck BMD.

Conclusions: The efficacy of ROMO may be attenuated by RA-related factors.

Keywords: Bone mineral density; Postmenopausal osteoporosis; Rheumatoid arthritis; Romosozumab.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / complications
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / drug therapy
  • Bone Density
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents* / pharmacology
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lumbar Vertebrae
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal* / complications
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal* / drug therapy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rheumatoid Factor

Substances

  • romosozumab
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Rheumatoid Factor
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal