Effects Of Oral Prednisolone On Bone Metabolism In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Investigation of the Side Effects of Orally Administered Glucocorticoids. An Open Label Study to Investigate the Effects of Orally Administered Prednisolone on Bone Metabolism in Patients With COPD.

The aim of this study is to establish associations between blood and urine markers of bone metabolism with histomorphometric changes (changes in the actual bone structure) resulting from short term oral prednisolone treatment in patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Inclusion criteria:

• Females subjects must be unable to have children.
• BMI 19 - 29.9
• Non-smokers, ex-smokers or current light smokers (<10 cigarettes/day)

Exclusion criteria:

• High blood pressure
• Other significant disease
• Use of certain medications (to be decided by the investigator)