Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the study cohort

Age at time of bone biopsy (years)

14.0 ± 3.2

Age at diagnosis of rheumatologic disease (years)

7.6 ± 3.6

 Height Z score

−2.3 ± 1.4

 Weight Z score

−0.2 ± 1.4

 Body mass index Z score

0.8 ± 1.2

 Pubertal stage (% of subjects pre-pubertal: mid-pubertal: post-pubertal)^b

33:40:27

 Functional ability at time of bone biopsy (CHAQ score)

0.25 (0 to 1.87)^a

 Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/h)

13 (1 to 57)^a

 Duration of glucocorticoid treatment (years)

6.2 ± 4.1

 Cumulative glucocorticoid dose (mg/m²)^c

29134 ± 29410

 Average glucocorticoid dose (mg/m²/day)^c

14.1 ± 6.2

 1 vertebral fracture

5 (33 %)

 2 to 4 vertebral fractures

3 (20 %)

  ≥ 5 vertebral fractures

7 (47 %)

 Grade 1

3 (20 %)

 Grade 2

10 (67 %)

 Grade 3

2 (13 %)

Lumbar spine areal BMD Z score

−3.4 (−5.5 to −1.7)^a

Lumbar spine BMAD Z score

−2.9 (−4.1 to −0.9)^a

Serum 25(OH)D (nmol/L)

69.5 (43 to 118)^a