Low pre-pregnant body mass index is a risk factor for the decrease of postpartum bone mineral density in systemic lupus erythematosus patients received glucocorticoid therapy.

Objectives: This study investigated postpartum bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) receiving long-term glucocorticoid (GC) therapy, assessed risk factors for decreased postpartum BMD, and evaluated change of BMD after postpartum initiation or restarting of osteoporosis drugs.

Methods: We retrospectively examined 30 SLE patients who gave birth and 31 non-pregnant SLE patients. In the postpartum SLE patients, BMD was measured after delivery and 1 year later.