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Trabecular Bone Score in Rheumatic Disease

  • Imaging (J Samuels, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Patients with rheumatic disease are at high risk of low bone mass and osteoporotic fracture. Trabecular bone score (TBS), derived from lumbar spine dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), is a novel measure of bone texture that independently predicts fracture risk. This review examines the role of TBS in rheumatic disease including fracture prediction.

Recent Findings

Most studies concerning TBS and rheumatic disease are cross-sectional, with consistent evidence of lower TBS in patients with rheumatic disease compared to controls. Recent studies have shown association and predictive ability of TBS for prevalent fracture, and the few longitudinal studies showed predictive ability of TBS for incident fracture. TBS in ankylosing spondylitis is of interest given the high rates of vertebral fracture and technical difficulty with lumbar spine bone mineral density. TBS degradation has been associated with disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis, systemic sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Glucocorticoid exposure is associated with lower TBS, and predicts prevalent fracture, in patients with rheumatic conditions.

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Acknowledgements

Thank you to Kwi Young Kang et al. for answering questions about their publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Ceri Richards & William D. Leslie

  2. Department of Rheumatology, University of Manitoba, RR149 800 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3A 1M4, Canada

    Ceri Richards

  3. Department of Medicine (C5121), University of Manitoba, 409 Tache Avenue, Winnipeg, R2H 2A6, Canada

    William D. Leslie

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Correspondence to Ceri Richards.

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Richards, C., Leslie, W.D. Trabecular Bone Score in Rheumatic Disease. Curr Rheumatol Rep 24, 81–87 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-022-01062-w

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