Posttransplant bone disease: evidence for a high bone resorption state

Loss of bone is a significant problem after renal transplant. Although bone loss in the first post transplant year has been well documented, conflicting data exist concerning bone loss after this time. It is equally unclear whether bone loss in long-term renal transplant recipients correlates with bone turnover as it does in postmenapausal osteoporosis. To examine these issues, we conducted a cross-sectional study to define the prevalence of osteoporosis in long-term (> 1 year) renal transplant recipients with preserved renal function (mean creatinine clearance 73 +/- 23 ml/min). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the hip, spine and wrist by DEXA in 69 patients. Markers for bone formation (serum osteocalcin) and bone resorption [urinary levels of pyridinoline (PYD) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD)] were also measured as well as parameters of calcium metabolism. Correlations were made between these parameters and BMD at the various sites. The mean age of the patients was 45 +/- 11 years. Eighty eight percent of patients were on cyclosporine (12% on tacrolimus) and all but 2 were on prednisone [mean dose 9 +/- 2 mg/day)]. Osteoporosis (BMD more than 2.5 SD below peak adult BMD) at the spine or hip was diagnosed in 44% of patients and osteopenia was present in an additional 44%. Elevated levels of intact parathyroid hormone (i PTH) were observed in 81% of patients. Elevated urinary levels of PYD or DPD were present in 73% of patients and 38% had elevated serum levels of osteocalcin. Levels of calcium, and of 25(OH) and 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D were normal. In a stepwise multiple regression model that included osteocalcin, PYD, DPD, intact PTH, age, years posttransplant, duration of dialysis, cumulative prednisone dose, smoking, and diabetes: urinary PYD was the strongest predictor of bone mass. These results demonstrate that osteoporosis is common in long-term renal transplant recipients. The data also suggest that elevated rates of bone resorption contribute importantly to this process.     

金天格胶囊对老年高血压患者骨密度、骨代谢及骨硬化蛋白水平的影响

目的探索老年高血压并骨质疏松患者口服金天格胶囊对骨密度及骨代谢指标的影响。方法选择2013年7月至2015年9月我院老年高血压并骨质疏松患者144例为研究对象,随机、双盲分为治疗组(n=72)和对照组(n=72)。治疗组患者口服金天格胶囊+钙剂,对照组口服钙剂。两组观察12个月,测定治疗前及治疗后12个月的血清骨钙素(OC)、血清Ⅰ型胶原C末端肽(s-CTX)、血清骨源性碱性磷酸酶(BAP)、血清骨硬化蛋白(SCL)和骨密度值(腰椎正位、股骨颈、前臂、股骨粗隆)。结果两组骨密度及骨代谢指标参数基线值比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后12个月后,两组OC、BAP及腰椎正位、股骨颈、前臂、股骨粗隆的BMD显著增大,且s-CTX、SCL水平显著降低(P0.05);而治疗组治疗后OC、BAP、sCTX、SCL及腰椎正位、股骨颈、前臂、股骨粗隆的BMD改变显著优于对照组(P0.05)。结论口服金天格胶囊可以通过改变骨代谢和抑制SCL表达而提高高血压合并骨质疏松患者的骨密度。     

The clinical significance of serum osteocalcin and N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen in predialysis patients with chronic renal failure

Several new serum markers for bone metabolism have recently become available and are being applied to clinical practice. Their clinical usefulness in predialysis patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), however, has not yet been determined. Serum levels of three bone formation markers—bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin (OC), and N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (PINP)—and three bone resorption markers—type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTx), deoxypyridinoline (DPD), and pyridinoline (PYD)—were measured simultaneously in 85 predialysis CRF patients (serum creatinine 3.5 ± 1.9 mg/dl, 61.0 ± 10.9 years old, 54 males and 31 females, 36 diabetics and 49 nondiabetics) to examine the relationships between these markers and bone mineral density (BMD) of the distal radius, as measured by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Trabecular BMD, which is strongly affected by bone metabolism, was significantly negatively correlated with each of the bone formation markers (r=–0.341, p=0.0016, for OC; r=–0.314, p=0.0036, for PINP; r=–0.238, p=0.0315, for BAP), but there was no significant correlation between BMD and any of the bone resorption markers. In multivariate regression analyses (adjusted by age, sex, presence of diabetes, glomerular filtration rate, intact parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphate, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D), OC and PINP were significantly associated with a decrease in BMD, but BAP was not. In conclusion, we demonstrated that in predialysis CRF patients, BMD of the distal radius, particularly of trabecular bone, is associated with serum OC and PINP levels. OC and PINP are suggested to be possible parameters for the clinical evaluation of the effect of bone metabolism on BMD.     

老年男性骨质疏松患者血清胰淀素与骨密度及骨转换生化指标的关系

目的探讨老年男性骨质疏松患者血清胰淀素(Amylin)水平的变化及其与骨密度(BMD)及骨转换生化指标的关系。方法采用酶联免疫法(ELISA)测定89例老年男性骨质疏松患者和50例正常男性老年人血清Amylin、骨碱性磷酸酶(BAP)、骨钙素(BGP)、I型胶原氨基末端肽(NTX),采用美国NORLAND XR-46 Excell-plus双能X线骨密度测定仪分别测定正位腰椎(L2-L4)及左侧股骨颈BMD。结果老年男性骨质疏松患者正位腰椎及左侧股骨颈BMD、血清Amylin、BAP、BGP水平较正常男性老年人明显降低(均P<0.01),血清NTX水平较正常男性老年人明显升高(P<0.01)。老年男性骨质疏松患者血清Amylin水平与患者正位腰椎及左侧股骨颈BMD、血清BAP、BGP水平呈明显正相关(r=0.598,r=0.652,r=0.576,r=0.584,均P<0.01),与患者血清NTX水平呈明显负相关(r=-0.673,P<0.01)。结论血清胰淀素水平降低在老年男性骨质疏松的发病中可能发挥重要作用。     

Bone mineral status in paraplegic patients who do or do not perform standing

Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed by dual-photon X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine (L3, L4), the proximal femur and the femoral shaft, and by single-photon absorptiometry at the forearm in 53 patients with complete traumatic paraplegia of at least 1 year's duration and in age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The patients did (n=38) or did not (n=15) regularly perform passive weightbearing standing with the aid of a standing device. Compared with the controls, the BMD of paraplegic patients was preserved in the lumbar spine and was markedly decreased in the proximal femur (33%) and the femoral shaft (25%). When considering all patients performing standing, they had a better-preserved BMD at the femoral shaft (p=0.009), but not at the proximal femur, than patients not performing standing. BMD at the lumbar spine (L3,L4) was marginally higher in the standing group (significant only for L3;p=0.040). A subgroup of patients performing standing with use of long leg braces had a significantly higher BMD at the proximal femur than patients using a standing frame or a standing wheelchair (p=0.030). The present results suggest that passive mechanical loading can have a beneficial effect on the preservation of bone mass in osteoporosis found in paraplegics.     

Bone mineral density of the proximal femur and lumbar spine in glucocorticoid-treated asthmatic patients

The importance of the proximal femur as a site of osteoporotic fractures, the development of techniques for bone mineral density (BMD) measurement at this site and the apparent selectivity of the osteopenic effects of glucorticoids have focused attention on the assessment of proximal femoral BMD in steroid-treated subjects. We have, therefore, measured BMD (Lunar DPX) in the lumbar spine and proximal femur of 31 asthmatic patients receiving long-term glucocorticoid therapy (mean ± SEM dose 16 ± 1 mg prednisone/day, mean duration 10 ± 2 years). BMD values expressed as the percentage of normal age- and sex-appropriate mean values, after weight adjustment, were as follows: lumbar spine 80 ± 2%, femoral neck 83 ± 2%, Ward's triangle 78 ± 3% and trochanter 86 ± 2%. All these values were significantly less than control (p<0.0001) and the decrement in BMD was more marked in Ward's triangle than at the other two femoral sites (p<0.05). In all regions BMD was unrelated to dose or duration of steroid treatment. It is concluded that there are reductions in the BMD of the lumbar spine and proximal femur in glucocorticoid-treated asthmatics, probably reflecting the mixed cortical/trabecular makeup of both regions.     

Differential action of pamidronate on trabecular and cortical bone in women with involutional osteoporosis

Since osteoporotic fractures are mainly related to the diminution of the bone mineral density (BMD), the effect of pamidronate (3-amino-1-hydroxy-propylidene) 1,1-bisphosphonate on the BMD of the spine, proximal femur and radius shaft was evaluated in an initial cohort of 35 postmenopausal women with at least one vertebral fracture due to involutional osteoporosis.Pamidronate was given continuously during 18 months in a daily oral dose of 4.8 to 6.0 mg/kg supplemented with calcium (1 g/day).BMD — measured by dual photon absorptiometry — increased after one year 5.3±1.0% (P<0.001) in lumbar spine and 5.3±1.5% (P<0.001) over trochanter. However no significant changes were observed in the BMD of the femoral neck, Ward's triangle or in the cortical bone of the radius shaft measured by single photon absorptiometry.Pamidronate also decreased significantly urinary hydroxyproline-creatinine excretion after 6 months and thereafter maintained a plateau. After 18 months of treatment the diminution was 42.6±4.9% (P<0.001).The differing effects of pamidronate on the BMD of lumbar spine and proximal femur might be ascribed to dissimilarities between the proportions of trabecular and cortical bone in these. These results suggest that pamidronate may be prescribed to prevent fractures in cases of involutional osteoporosis with a significant decrease of BMD in lumbar spine and/or trochanter.     

广州地区1 403例成年女性骨密度测定分析

目的了解本地区成年女性人群腰椎、股骨近端各部位骨密度(Bone mineral density BMD)随年龄、绝经年限、体重、身高的变化规律、各部位骨密度的偏相关分析和多元线性回归分析及骨质疏松患病率情况,为骨质疏松的诊断及预防提供科学依据.方法采用美国NORLAND公司的XR-46系列双能X线骨密度仪测量1 403例成年女性人群腰椎(L2-L4前后位及L3侧位)、非优势(左)股骨近端各部位(股骨颈、大粗隆及Ward's三角)BMD值,按10岁一个年龄组分7组对数据进行统计分析.结果广州地区成年女性腰椎骨峰含量出现在30～39岁组,而股骨近端骨峰含量出现在20～29岁组,腰椎及股骨近端各部位BMD值均随年龄增长而下降,腰椎和Ward's三角部位在50～59岁和60～69岁两年龄组骨量呈快速丢失现象.各部位骨密度的偏相关分析显示各部位的骨密度均呈相关性(P＜0.01).多元线性回归分析显示年龄和体重对绝经前女性股骨颈的骨密度有影响(P＜0.01),而绝经后女性腰3侧位骨密度除了年龄和体重的影响外,身高和绝经年限均对其有影响(P＜0.01).成年女性在达到峰值骨量后随着年龄的增加,各部位骨质疏松的患病率都呈上升趋势.结论女性机体BMD随年龄而变化,年龄、体重、绝经年限及身高等对机体BMD均有一定的影响,保持合适的体重和体型,有利于BMD的增加与维持.对不同年龄段的成年女性人群,预防骨质疏松的发生应以测量不同部位的BMD作为评价手段.     

Bone Disease After Liver Transplantation: A Long-Term Prospective Study of Bone Mass Changes, Hormonal Status and Histomorphometric Characteristics

After liver transplantation there is a high incidence of fractures, with important rates of bone loss during the first months. However, the long-term evolution of bone mass and metabolism parameters have been scarcely studied. In order to determine the incidence and risk factors involved in the development of skeletal fractures and to analyze the long-term evolution of bone mass, bone turnover and hormonal status after liver transplantation, a 3-year prospective study was performed in 45 patients following liver transplantation. Serum osteocalcin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D) and testosterone levels (men), and bone mass at the lumbar spine and femur were measured before and sequentially at different time points during 3 years. Spinal X-rays were obtained during the first year. Histomorphometric analysis of bone biopsies obtained in 24 patients within the first 12 hours after surgery and 6 months after transplantation was performed. Fifteen patients (33%) developed fractures after liver transplantation, and pre- transplant risk factors for fractures were age and low bone mass (odd”s ratio for osteoporosis, 95% confidence interval: 5.69, 1.32–24.53). Serum PTH, osteocalcin, 25-OH D, testosterone and creatinine levels increased after transplantation. Moreover, PTH correlated with creatinine and osteocalcin values. Bone mass decreased during the first 6 months and reached baseline values at the lumbar spine the second year, with posterior significant recovery at the femoral neck. Long term evolution of femoral neck BMD correlated with PTH levels. Six months after transplantation bone histomorphometric data showed an increase in bone formation parameters. After liver transplantation there is a high incidence of fractures, specially in elderly patients and those with osteoporosis. Bone mass decreased in the short-term period and improved, initially at the lumbar spine and later at the femur, according to histomorphometric evidences of an increase in bone formation. The increase in creatinine values induces a secondary hyperparathyroidism that influences the changes in femoral bone mass. Treatment of osteoporosis shortly after liver transplantation may be important in the prevention of bone fractures, particularly in patients with low bone mass. Received: June 2000 / Accepted: November 2000     

Risk for developing osteoporosis in untreated premature menopause

Summary The bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and proximal femur was determined by dual photon absorptiometry in 32 women with untreated premature menopause (cessation of menses before 45 years of age). The BMD of the spine and proximal femur in four obese patients was not different from the BMD of the age-matched controls. On the contrary, the BMD of the nonobese females with premature menopause was significantly lower with respect to the average values found in healthy young women, in age-matched and menopause-matched controls. The BMD deficit was greater over the lumbar spine than in the proximal femur. Forty three percent of nonobese patients were already under the vertebral fracture threshold and 25% of nonobese patients were below the hip fracture threshold. The BMD deficit in the lumbar spine was correlated to the loss observed in the femoral neck (r=0.59, P<0.001), in the trochanter (r=0.65, P<0.001) and in the Ward's triangle (r=0.73, P<0.001). A negative correlation was observed between years of menopause and the BMD of the lumbar spine (r=-0.39, P<0.05). The results indicate the high individual risk for osteoporotic fractures in nonobese females with untreated premature menopause. The BMD loss was greater over the skeletal areas that are predominantly composed of trabecular bone compared with cortical bone.     

尿脱氧吡啶啉及骨源性碱性磷酸酶在骨质疏松症中的临床意义

目的探讨骨源性碱性磷酸酶(BAP)及尿脱氧吡啶啉(DPD)排泄率对骨质疏松症患者的诊断价值及两者的相关性。方法对73例骨质疏松症患者在其治疗前后进行血钙(Ca)、血磷(P)、血碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、血BAP、尿DPD、尿Cr及跟骨密度(BMD)测定,并同时测定50例正常健康人作对照。结果骨质疏松症患者BAP比正常对照组(213±8．13U／L 比142±6．69U／L)、DPD排泄率较正常对照组(6．11±2．14nmol／mmolCr比3．24± 1．62nmol／mmolCr)均明显增高(P<0．01),且治疗前后差异有显著性(P<0．01)。两者之间成正相关(r=0．52)。结论 BAP、DPD／Cr是监测骨质疏松症患者的敏感指标。     

Nandrolone decanoate and intranasal calcitonin as therapy in established osteoporosis

This study used a randomized, 2 × 2 factorial design to evaluate over 2 years the effect of intranasal salmon calcitonin and intramuscular nandrolone decanoate on bone mass in elderly women with established osteoporosis. The study was double masked in relation to calcitonin and open in relation to nandrolone decanoate. One hundred and twenty-three women aged 60–88 years who had sustained a previous osteoporotic fracture, or had osteopenia, were recruited through an outpatient clinic. Women were assigned to one of four groups: (1) daily placebo nasal spray, (2) 400 IU intranasal calcitonin daily, (3) 20 intramuscular injections of 50 mg nandrolone decanoate (given as two courses of 10 injections) plus placebo nasal spray, or (4) 20 injections of 50 mg nandrolone decanoate plus 400 IU intranasal calcitonin daily. All subjects received 1000 mg calcium supplementation daily. Outcomes measured included changes in bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine, as measured by dual-energy quantitative computed tomography (DEQCT), in BMD of the proximal femur, and BMD and bone mineral content (BMC) of the lumbar spine and forearm, as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Significant positive changes from baseline in DXA BMC at the lumbar spine were observed over 2 years in the calcitonin group (5.0±1.9%, mean ± SE) and in the nandrolone deconate group (4.7±1.9%) but not in the placebo group (1.1±2.2%) or the combined therapy group (0.7±1.8%). Modelling based on the 2×2 factorial design revealed that nandrolone decanoate was associated with a 3.8±1.8% (p<0.05) gain in DXA BMD at the proximal femur. Modelling also revealed that calcitonin treatment was associated with a loss of 11.5±4.7% in DEQCT BMD at the lumbar spine and a loss of 3.7±1.8% in DXA BMD at the proximal femur (p<0.05). There was in vivo antagonism between the two medications of 7.9±3.9% for DXA BMC at the lumbar spine. Both agents caused positive changes from baseline in lumbar spine BMC. Nandrolone decanoate had beneficial effects on BMD at the proximal femur. This dose of intranasal calcitonin was associated with deleterious effects on trabecular BMD at the lumbar spine and total BMD at the proximal femur. There may be significant clinical antagonism between these two medications.     

Remarkable increase in lumbar spine bone mineral density and amelioration in biochemical markers of bone turnover after parathyroidectomy in elderly patients with primary hyperparathyroidism: a 5-year follow-up study

We evaluated the efficacy of parathyroidectomy (PTX) on bone mineral density (BMD) and hormonal and biochemical markers of bone metabolism in elderly primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) patients, and followed these patients for 5 years after PTX. Eleven PHPT patients were enrolled and were followed for 5 years by measuring lumbar spine BMD (LSBMD), femoral BMD (FBMD), radial BMD (RBMD), parathyroid hormone (PTH), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)₂D], serum calcium (SCa), inorganic phosphate (iP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), intact osteocalcin (IOC), urinary excretion of type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTx), and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD). PTX produced significant increases in LSBMD of 12%, 19%, and 29% as compared with pretreatment levels after 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively (P < 0.01, compared to baseline), whereas there was no significant increase in FBMD and a slight decrease in RBMD. SCa and iP levels remained normal over the five years. PTX also resulted in significant decreases in PTH, 1,25(OH)₂D, BAP, IOC, NTx, and DPD that continued for at least 3 years after PTX. In conclusion, PTX seemed effective to normalize various markers of bone metabolism in elderly PHPT patients and is recommended to patients with low LSBMD to prevent future fractures. On the other hand, the use of PTX for low FBMD or RBMD patients requires further discussion.     

Effects of risedronate or alfacalcidol on bone mineral density,bone turnover,back pain,and fractures in Japanese men with primary osteoporosis: results of a two-year strict observational study

Although osteoporosis in men is already a major public health problem, there is still a dearth of data about the effects of risedronate in male osteoporosis, especially in Japanese with primary osteoporosis. Therefore, the objective of our study was to investigate the effects of risedronate on bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover, back pain, and fractures in these patients prospectively for two years (at baseline, three months, six months, twelve months, and twenty-four months) both longitudinally and compared with those of alfacalcidol. The subjects enrolled for this study were 66 Japanese male patients with untreated primary osteoporosis (mean age 63.52 ± 8.7 years), who were divided into two groups (44 with risedronate and 22 with alfacalcidol). We measured BMD by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at three sites—the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and distal radius. Risedronate treatment significantly increased BMD at the lumbar spine and at the femoral neck, reduced bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and serum N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx), and reduced back pain, both longitudinally and compared with alfacalcidol treatment. We observed a lower rate of incident fracture in risedronate users. However, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that this trend was not statistically significant, possibly because of the small number of patients enrolled. These potentially beneficial effects of risedronate on bone in male patients with primary osteoporosis suggest the possibility that osteoporosis should be treated with risedronate regardless of gender in order to effectively prevent subsequent osteoporotic fractures.     

Sexual differences in bone markers and bone mineral density of normal Chinese

We measured bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar (L2–L4) vertebrae and proximal femurs of 385 healthy Chinese women aged 40–70 years and 156 healthy Chinese men aged 20–85, and four markers—bone alkaline phosphatase isozyme (BAP), procollagen-I C terminal propeptide (PICP), osteocalcin (BGP) in serum, and a bone resorption marker, urinary cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX), of these subjects. The results indicate that in postmenopausal women, levels of all the markers increased with age. In men, serum BAP, PICP, and urinary NTX decreased significantly, and serum BGP decreased with borderline significance (P=0.08). With increasing age, bone density decreased at both sites in post-menopausal women and at the proximal femur in men. The lumbar bone density showed no significant age-related changes in men. In premenopausal women, BMD at either site showed no significant change with increasing age. Despite the different trends between men and women of agerelated changes in BMD and bone markers, bone density of both proximal femur and spine in both sexes correlated inversely with levels of the bone markers in a manner independent of age or body weight. The meaning of opposite age effects on bone markers in men and women needs further investigation. In addition, higher bone marker levels, implying faster bone turnover rate, are associated with lower BMD in both sexes.     

Monitoring alendronate therapy for osteoporosis.

Alendronate is an antiresorptive therapy for osteoporosis and results in a decrease in bone turnover. To choose the optimal measurement for monitoring this therapy, the size of the change needs to be compared with the variability of the measurement. We studied 26 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (bone mineral density [BMD] T score < -2.5), who were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive alendronate (10 mg/day) and calcium carbonate (500 mg/day) or calcium carbonate alone for 6 months. We measured serum markers of bone formation (osteocalcin [OC], bone isoform of alkaline phosphatase [BAP], and collagen type I C-terminal propeptide [CICP]) and urinary markers of bone resorption (cross-linked N-telopeptide [NTx], free deoxypyridinoline [iFDpd], and free pyridinolines). All subjects had two measurements 1 week apart at baseline to calculate the short-term variability. Biochemical measurements were then made at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 25 weeks. Measurements of bone mass were made by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine and proximal femur twice at baseline and then at 24 and 25 weeks. The mean difference in change in BMD and markers between both groups at the end of the study that were significant were (short-term variability in brackets): DXA total hip 4.3% (2.5%), NTX 49% (10%), iFDpd 22% (12%), OC 28% (13%), BAP 31% (13%), and CICP 31% (11%). Five of the six markers showed significant responses to alendronate therapy, but they differed in the relationship between size of response and variability. These biochemical markers performed better than DXA for monitoring alendronate therapy over 6 months.     

46例绝经后骨质疏松症妇女骨密度及尿吡啶啉、血清Ⅰ型前胶原肽的初步分析

本文通过对60～70岁绝经后妇女20例健康对照组、28例骨质疏松组、18例骨质疏松伴骨折组骨密度及尿吡啶啉(Pyridinoline,PYD)、血清Ⅰ型前胶原肽(Carboxy\|terminalpropeptideoftypeIprocollagen,PICP)的测定,经过比较分析结果显示46例骨质疏松患者的骨密度显著低于健康对照组,18例骨质疏松伴骨折组患者的股骨颈部位的骨密度显著低于28例骨质疏松无骨折组.46例骨质疏松患者的尿PYD、血PICP均显著高于健康对照组.由此提示绝经后妇女测量骨密度尤其是股骨上端的骨密度,结合骨吸收及骨形成的生化指标尿PYD、血PICP,能更好地预测骨质疏松及提示骨折发生的危险性.     

Osteoporosis in patients with paralysis after spinal cord injury

In a cross-sectional study, 46 male patients with paralysis after spinal cord injury (average age 32 years; injuries sustained from 1 to 26 years ago; 33 Frankel A, 13 Frankel B, C, D) were examined clinically and by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Their bone mineral density (BMD) values were compared with age-related controls and correlated to clinical parameters. BMD was reduced in the proximal femur (p < 0.05) and the distal forearm (p < 0.05), but not in the lumbar spine. Demineralisation was influenced in the proximal femur (Z-score –2.95) by immobilisation after surgical treatment. Patients suffering from complete lesions had significantly lower BMD in the lumbar spine (–1.47) compared with patients with incomplete lesions (+0.02). BMD was not significantly influenced by the level of the lesion and the ambulatory status. Long-term monitoring showed significant demineralisation in the proximal femur (r = –0.36) and the distal forearm (r = –0.4), but not in the lumbar spine (r = –0.21). By correlating BMD with clinical parameters, it can be deduced that, firstly, immobilisation after surgical treatment should be reduced to a minimum; secondly, that every effort must be expended to prevent turning an incomplete into a complete lesion; and finally, that rehabilitation treatment should be lifelong. Received: 15 August 1999     

Prevalence of Reduced Bone Mineral Density in Patients with Anti-neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Associated Vasculitis and the Role of Immunosuppressive Therapy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is a relapsing-remitting disease, which is treated with corticosteroids (CS) in combination with cyclophosphamide. One of the major side-effects of this treatment is osteoporosis, which may result in the increased occurrence of fractures. In the present study we measured the prevalence of reduced bone mineral density (BMD) in a cross-sectional cohort of patients and correlated BMD findings with cumulative doses of CS and/or cyclophosphamide. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine, radius and proximal femur between January 1998 and December 1999. Cumulative doses of CS and cyclophosphamide were calculated by chart review. Ninety-nine consecutive patients (48 men, 51 women) aged 55 ± 16 years (mean ± SD) were studied 50 months (median; range 0–400 months) after a diagnosis of ANCA-associated vasculitis had been made. Sixty-nine patients were treated with 10.7 g (median cumulative dose; range 0.4–67.2g) of CS, and 88 patients were treated with 34.1 g (median cumulative dose; range 0.8–324.3g) of cyclophosphamide. Fifty-seven percent of the patients had osteopenia (T-score: –1 to –2.5 SD), and 21% had osteoporosis (T-score: <−2.5 SD) at least at one site. Thirty-four of 37 (92%) postmenopausal women, 9 of 14 (64%) premenopausal women, and 34 of 48 (71%) men had either osteopenia or osteoporosis. The mean age- and sex-adjusted BMD (Z-score) of the proximal femur in men was found to be significantly lower than zero. Cumulative dose of CS therapy showed an inverse relation with Z-scores at the lumbar spine (p= 0.035) and proximal femur (p = 0.011). Cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide was not correlated with Z-scores. Osteopenia and osteoporosis are thus frequently observed in patients with ANCA-associated vasculities. However, only in men is the mean Z-score significantly lower than zero. Cumulative dose of CS therapy is significantly associated with bone loss at the spine and femur. Received: 26 March 2001 / Accepted: 1 August 2001     

Quantitative Computed Tomography in the Evaluation of Spinal Osteoporosis Following Spinal Cord Injury

Disuse osteoporosis occurs in the lower extremities of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, spinal osteoporosis is not usually observed in these patients. We investigated lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) in SCI patients using single energy quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Our study population consisted of 64 patients with long-standing SCI. Spine BMD (g/cm³) was assessed by QCT at four vertebrae ranging from T11 to L4 with single midvertebral CT slices 1 cm thick parallel to the vertebral end-plates. Confounding variables affecting normal trabecular bone pattern, such as compression fractures, surgical hardware or fat replacement, were excluded. For a subset of 29 patients, DXA values of the spine and femoral neck were also measured, and QCT and DXA Z-scores were compared On the average, the 64 SCI patients had Z-scores 2.0 ± 1.2 below those of age-matched controls. In the subset of 29 patients with both QCT and DXA measurements, the QCT and DXA Z-scores were 2.4 ± 1.1 below and 1.3 ± 2.3 above the mean, respectively (p<0.0001). Our results indicate that QCT reveals osteoporosis of the spine after SCI, in contrast to DXA. We postulate that QCT is more valuable for evaluating spinal osteoporosis following SCI than DXA and thus recommend QCT for spinal BMD studies in SCI. Received: 20 December 1999 / Accepted: 17 April 2000