Objective: To determine if there were changes in PDN-21 and calcitonin levels in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treated with glucocorticoids.
Methods: Concentrations of PDN-21 and calcitonin were studied in 52 premenopausal women with SLE treated with glucocorticoids. Bone mineral density analysis was performed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry.
Results: The values of PDN-21 in the SLE group were 354.6 +/- 230.6 pg/ml, significantly higher than healthy women (66.7 +/- 56.8 pg/ml) (p < 0.001). There was no difference in calcitonin values between the SLE and control groups.
Conclusion: Glucocorticoid therapy in patients with SLE causes increases of PDN-21, probably due in part to the effect on the gastric mucosa of this treatment and subsequent secretion of gastrin.