Rheumatology 2002; 41: 125-128
© 2002 British Society for Rheumatology
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Alcohol intake in rheumatic disease: good or bad?
Northwick Park and St Marks' Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ, UK
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Alcohol is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In 1983 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared alcohol-related problems to be among the world's major health concerns [1]. Recent developments in basic science and clinical research have led to an improved understanding of the mechanisms of the effects of alcohol on musculoskeletal diseases. These vary from the site of action of the cytokinehormone axis on the development of osteoporosis to the variety of epidemiological studies of alcohol in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and seronegative arthropathies.
Alcohol might be beneficial in rheumatic disease. There are examples of reduced alcohol-related deaths in RA and SLE [26]. However, acute and chronic alcohol intake is known to result in myopathies, which may lead to falls and consequent fractures [717]. There is a body of data emerging about the
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| References |
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