Low Creatinine Clearance, Glucocorticoid Treatment, Rheumatoid Arthritis – Different Etiologies for Low D-Hormone Syndrome and Its Associated Increased Risk for Falls

LAURENT C. DUKAS and ERICH SCHACHT

ABSTRACT.

Low D-hormone syndrome, a disorder related to low creatinine clearance (CrCl), is associated with a roughly 4-fold increase in risk for falls. Known conditions leading to low D-hormone syndrome are CrCl < 65 ml/min, drug interactions, and chronic inflammatory diseases. This article reviews recent studies showing that treatment with D-hormone analogs, such as alfacalcidol, can reduce the frequency of falls in patients with low D-hormone syndrome. (J Rheumatol 2005;32 Suppl 76:44-46)

Key Indexing Terms:

D-HORMONE
CREATININE CLEARANCE
ALFACALCIDOL
FALLS

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From the Acute Geriatric University Clinic, Kantonsspital, and Ambulatorium Wiesendamm, Basel, Switzerland; and the Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, University Clinic Balgrist, Zürich, Switzerland.

L.C. Dukas, MD, MPH, Acute Geriatric University Clinic, Kantonsspital, and Ambulatorium Wiesendamm; E. Schacht, PhD, Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, University Clinic Balgrist.

Address reprint requests to Dr. E. Schacht, Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, University Clinic Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland.

E-mail: erich.schacht@teva.de

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