金乌骨胶囊联合雷尼酸锶治疗绝经后妇女 骨质疏松症的临床观察

目的 评价金乌骨胶囊联合雷尼酸锶治疗绝经后骨质疏松症有效性和安全性.方法 选70例绝经后妇女骨质疏松患者随机分治疗组与对照组各35例;对照组给金乌骨胶囊,口服,3次/d,3粒/次;治疗组在对照组基础上加用雷尼酸锶2mg/d,疗程14周;治疗前后检测采用超声骨密度仪测左侧跟骨低骨量.结果 两组绝经后妇女治疗后症状均有所减轻,骨密度较治疗前明显增加,骨折风险减少(P＜0.05);临床疗效优于单用金乌骨胶囊组(P＜0.05),临床症状好转达97.14％.结论 金乌骨胶囊联合雷尼酸锶治疗骨质疏松疗效比单一用药治疗效果及安全性更确切.     

绝经后女性MMP-10和TIMP-1水平与骨密度及骨代 谢指标的关系

目的测定绝经后妇女血清基质金属蛋白酶-10(MMP-10)和金属蛋白酶抑制物-1(TIMP-1)水平,并探讨其与骨密度数值和骨代谢指标的关系。方法选取武汉地区120名48岁至65岁绝经后女性,用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)测定血清MMP-10、TIMP-1以及整合素(Integrin)α2β1、雌二醇(E2)、骨保护蛋白(OPG)、骨保护蛋白配体(OPGL)的水平,计算MMP-10/TIMP-1比值,用双能X线吸收法(DEXA)测定腰椎正位,股骨颈,华氏区和大粗隆的骨密度(BMD)。同时,按照WHO标准将入选女性分为骨密度正常组、低骨量组和骨质疏松组。结果①骨质疏松组中血清MMP-10检测结果(644.25±19.21)pg/ml高于正常组(347.08±21.41)pg/ml(P0.05),而TIMP-1检测结果(134±116)μg/L低于正常组(146±130)μg/L。②骨质疏松组中血清MMP-10与骨密度、血清E2、OPGL和Integrinα2β1测定结果存在明显负相关性(P0.05),和OPG和CTX存在明显正相关性(P0.05)。结论血清MMP-10和MMP-10/TIMP-1比值与绝经后骨质疏松症妇女骨密度和骨代谢指标具有关联性。两者可能通过整合素途径参与绝经后骨质疏松症骨代谢高转换过程。     

围绝经期及绝经后妇女骨量变化规律的初步分析

目的了解广东省围绝经期及绝经后妇女的骨量变化规律及特点，并分析妇女骨量的有关影响因素，为妇女骨质疏松症的防治提供科学依据。方法在广东居住10年以上的妇女214例，均接受腰椎和股骨上端骨密度测定，并对测量结果进行统计分析。结果妇女腰椎和髋部的骨密度值自围绝经期即开始缓慢下降，绝经以后下降速度加快，其中绝经后前4年内下降迅速，以后则相对缓慢。同时，体重和生育次数可以影响妇女骨密度值。结论妇女各部位骨密度值从围绝经期开始即有不同程度的下降，因此早期对敏感部位进行骨密度检测，并早期治疗，有利于预防骨质疏松性骨折。     

绝经后妇女护骨素基因启动子区T950C基因多态性与骨密度的关系研究

目的探讨绝经后妇女护骨素(OPG)基因启动子区T950C基因多态性与骨密度的关系。方法应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)方法,测定随机选取的50例绝经后骨质疏松妇女和50例绝经后非骨质疏松妇女,OPG基因T950C的基因型;采用双能X线吸收法分别测定腰椎(L1-4)和股骨颈、髋部的骨密度。结果在绝经后妇女中发现TT、TC、CC三种基因型,各基因型的分布频率分别为:TT,27%;TC,51%;CC,22%,符合Hardy-Weinberg定律。骨质疏松组与非骨质疏松组之间OPG基因型分布频率的差异无显著性(P0.05)。比较各基因型的骨密度,绝经后妇女三种基因型之间无差异(P0.05)。结论护骨素基因启动子区T950C基因多态性与绝经后妇女的骨密度关系不密切,可能不能作为绝经后妇女是否发生骨质疏松的遗传标志。     

绝经后女性骨密度与腰椎间盘退变程度的相关性研究

目的探讨绝经后女性骨密度与腰椎间盘退变程度的相关性。方法回顾性研究西南医科大学附属医院2017年1月至2019年12月收治的因慢性腰痛住院的251例绝经后女性患者。收集患者的年龄、绝经年限、体质量指数(body mass index,BMI)。采用双能X线骨密度仪检测患者腰椎(L_(1～4))及髋部平均骨密度,根据骨密度T值将患者分为骨量正常组(n=45)、骨量低下组(n=71)和骨质疏松组(n=135)。同时患者均行腰椎MRI检查,采用Pfirrmann分级系统评估腰椎间盘退变程度(L1/2、L2/3、L3/4、L4/5、L5/S1)。采用Spearman相关性分析骨密度与腰椎间盘退变程度的关系。结果骨质疏松组和骨量低下组的年龄、绝经年限显著大于骨量正常组(P0.05)。骨质疏松组和骨量低下组的BMI明显小于骨量正常组(P0.05)。骨质疏松组和骨量低下组的L1/2、L2/3、L3/4、L1～S1(L1/2～L5/S1的平均值)椎间盘退变评分明显高于骨量正常组(P0.05)。骨质疏松组的L4/5、L5/S1椎间盘退变评分高于骨量正常组(P0.05),骨量低下组与骨量正常组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。相关性分析结果显示,骨密度与BMI呈正相关(P0.05),与年龄、绝经年限、L1/2、L2/3、L3/4、L4/5、L5/S1、L1～S1椎间盘退变评分呈负相关(P0.05)。结论绝经后女性骨密度与BMI呈正相关,与年龄、绝经年限、腰椎间盘退变程度呈负相关。绝经后女性骨密度越低,其腰椎退变程度越严重。     

高分辨MRI对跟骨微结构的定量研究

目的探讨高分辨MRI在骨质疏松中的定量价值。方法收集病例共110例,男52例、女58例。按骨密度标准分4组：正常女性、异常女性、正常男性、异常男性。1.5TMR梯度回波左跟骨扫描,0.73mm层厚,空间分辨率：312μm×312μm×730μm。其中50例行T2值扫描。在跟骨最大矢状面选定5个ROI。在二维图像（Binary image）基础上分析结构参数29个、生物力学参数1个及T2值,结果进行统计处理。结果正常女性-异常女性组、正常男性-异常男性组出现统计意义的参数达85%,跟前上、跟后上、跟前下ROI结构参数97%、97%、91%与骨密度相关。有统计意义的参数评分,两组中8-10分共占77%。反映小梁连接性参数如平均骨架长、小梁平均周长、欧拉数均与骨密度呈正相关,r=0.729、0.709、0.764,P〈0.001,欧拉数与骨密度呈负相关,r=-0.753,P〈0.001。抗扭转因子是生物力学参数,正常组均值在6.476-7.694之间,异常组在2.321-3.036之间,P〈0.001。抗扭转因子与骨密度均呈显著正相关,如跟后上感兴趣区抗扭转因子与股骨颈、大粗隆、粗隆间、髋骨的相关系数在0.756-0.803之间,P〈0.001。T2值测定中,正常组均值在94.72-113.75ms之间,P〈0.01,异常组在119.4-127.4ms之间,P〈0.05,两组年龄与T2值呈明显正相关、骨密度与T2值呈明显负相关。结论高分辨MRI骨小梁定量测定有较大价值,可作为骨质疏松的信息补充,其中的骨纹理参数潜在意义明显。     

骨质疏松症风险一分钟测试在评价绝经后女性超声骨 密度变化中的作用

目的探讨骨质疏松症风险一分钟测试在评价绝经后女性跟骨超声骨密度变化中的作用。方法对273名门诊就诊的绝经后妇女进行骨质疏松风险一分钟测试,并采用韩国SONOST 3000超声波骨密度检测仪测定受试者右跟骨SOS值、BUA值、BQI值及T值,按问卷测试结果对各组进行统计学分析。结果问卷测试阳性组受试者年龄较高(P0.01)、身高较低(P0.05)、体重较轻(P0.01),跟骨定量超声各参数及骨密度T值均显著低于阴性组(P0.01)。随年龄或OSTA风险增加,测试结果阳性率升高(P0.05),骨密度T值显著降低(P0.05)。在所有测试问题中,问题2和问题4阳性回答受试者的BQI值及骨密度T值均明显低于阴性回答受试者,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论骨质疏松症风险一分钟测试可以简便、有效地反映骨质疏松骨密度改变,特别对于测试问题2或问题4阳性的绝经后女性应引起高度警惕,建议及早诊治。     

辛伐他汀对绝经伴血脂代谢异常女性跟骨骨密度的影响

目的 研究辛伐他汀对绝经后伴血脂代谢异常女性跟骨骨密度的影响。方法 分析885名绝经后口服辛伐他汀治疗血脂代谢异常（TC>5.18mmol/L 或 LDL-C> 3.37mmol/L）女性的跟骨骨密度,并依据T值分为骨质正常、骨量减少、骨质疏松。结果 治疗前跟骨骨密度为305.3± 59.2 mg/cm2,骨质正常、骨量减少、骨质疏松的人数分别为115、446、324,口服辛伐他汀（20mg/d）治疗3月后骨密度为309.7±56.3 mg/cm2,骨质正常、骨量减少、骨质疏松的人数为117、459、319,12月后跟骨骨密度为312.5±60.9 mg/cm2,骨质正常、骨量减少、骨质疏松的人数为122、460、303。结论 绝经后伴血脂代谢异常女性应用辛伐他汀（20mg/d）治疗12个月后跟骨骨密度增高,但对骨质疏松患病风险无影响。     

绝经后妇女膝关节骨性关节炎骨密度的临床研究

目的 通过测量膝关节骨性关节炎患者桡骨远端和跟骨骨密度,探讨膝关节骨性关节炎患者骨密度的特征及膝关节骨性关节炎与骨质疏松症的关系.方法 对100例绝经后妇女膝关节骨性关节炎患者分别测量桡骨远端和跟骨的骨密度.所有患者均按kellgren分级标准对膝关节进行评分.结果 绝经后妇女膝关节骨性关节炎患者桡骨远端和跟骨的骨密度值随kellgren分级级数的增高差异无显著性.以低于同性别同部位峰值骨量的2.0 SD为骨质疏松诊断标准,桡骨远端和跟骨符合骨质疏松症诊断率分别为51%和46%.桡骨远端骨密度与体重指数的相关系数为0.3630(P<0.01).结论 绝经后妇女膝关节骨性关节炎患者伴发骨质疏松症的比例较高,且随年龄增高有不断增高的趋势.膝关节骨性关节炎患者的骨密度与体重指数呈正相关.     

rhPTH（1-34）治疗OVX大鼠骨质疏松延后效应的初步研究

目的观察重组人甲状旁腺激素（1-34）[rhPTH（1-34）]对卵巢摘除（OVX）大鼠骨质疏松症的治疗作用及停药后效应.方法应用双侧卵巢摘除方法建立模拟绝经后骨质疏松大鼠模型;给予皮下注射20μg/kg/d rhPTH（1-34）治疗8周,观察其骨量、骨生物力学、骨小梁形态计量及骨代谢相关血、尿生化指标,综合评价PTH对模型大鼠的治疗效果;同时观察停药8周后上述指标的变化.结果外源性PTH（1-34）治疗能显著增加模型大鼠的骨量、骨力学性能,改善骨微结构、增加骨转换.用药组的骨密度、股骨三点弯曲与腰椎压缩最大载荷、腰椎骨小梁百分面积显著高于对照组（P＜0.05～0.001）;血ALP（P＜0.05～0.01）与尿Pyd（P＜0.05）保持高水平;PTH停药8周后大鼠股骨与腰椎骨密度、股骨三点弯曲与腰椎压缩最大载荷及腰椎骨小梁百分面积均较停药前显著降低（P＜0.05～0.001）,但仍显著高于OVX对照组（P＜0.05～0.001）.结论外源性PTH（1-34）可显著增加OVX大鼠的骨量,提高骨力学性能,改善骨微结构,对卵巢摘除诱导的大鼠骨质疏松具有明显治疗作用;停药后出现骨量的快速丢失,骨力学性能下降等变化,但仍显示出其对OVX大鼠骨骼的保护作用.     

Effects of Menopause on Age-Dependent Bone Loss in the Axial and Appendicular Skeletons in Healthy Japanese Women

To determine the effects of menopause on bone loss in different parts of the skeleton, bone mineral density (BMD) values were measured longitudinally in 85 healthy women. BMD values included the lumbar spine measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative CT (QCT) and the distal and midradius measured by DXA obtained over 5 years. BMD at the calcaneus was measured using DXA for 3 years, and the BMD values of the distal metaphyses and diaphyses of radius and tibia were measured using peripheral QCT (pQCT) for 4 years. The subjects were 19 premenopausal, 17 perimenopausal, 12 early postmenopausal and 38 late postmenopausal women with the respective average ages of 39.1 ± 7.1 (SD), 51.9 ± 2.9, 55.8 ± 1.8 and 61.9 ± 3.9 years at the start of measurement. Average years since menopause were 1.4 ± 1.8, 3.3 ± 1.3 and 12.7 ± 5.3 years, respectively. In the perimenopausal group, the annual rate of bone loss for lumbar trabecular bone measured by QCT, and for the calcaneus, and metaphyseal trabecular bone at the radius and tibia by pQCT were higher than the respective values in the premenopausal group. These values in the late postmenopausal group became significantly lower compared with those in the perimenopausal group, coming down to the level of the premenopausal group. While the annual rates of bone loss at the tibial diaphysis in the perimenopausal group were also higher than those in the premenopausal group, the values at the radial diaphysis by DXA or pQCT did not differ significantly. The reductions in the annual rates of bone loss with the passage of time after menopause were not marked in these cortical bone dominated sites. These data indicated that the annual rates of bone loss at trabecular bone dominated sites were accelerated in both axial and appendicular skeletons. Diaphyseal cortical bone, however, seemed to be less sensitive to estrogen withdrawal. Other factors, such as genetics and calcium/vitamin D metabolism, would also affect the age-dependent bone loss at the cortical bone dominated sites after menopause. Received: 30 October 1998 / Accepted: 6 April 1999     

Fractal Analysis of Trabecular Bone Texture on Calcaneus Radiographs: Effects of Age, Time Since Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy

An analysis of trabecular bone texture based on fractal mathematics, when applied to trabecular bone images on plain radiographs, can be considered as a reflection of trabecular bone microarchitecture. It has been shown to be able to distinguish postmenopausal osteoporosis cases from controls. This cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate the influence of age, time since menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the fractal dimension of trabecular bone texture at the calcaneus in a sample of 537 healthy women. Fractal analysis of texture was performed on calcaneus radiographs and the result expressed as the Hmean parameter (H = 2–fractal dimension). Total hip, femoral neck and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. There was a statistically significant Hmean parameter decrease with age (p<0.0001) but the degree of correlation was low (r=–0.2) compared with the correlation between age and BMD (r=–0.36 to –0.61 according to the BMD site). We found a weak but statistically significant correlation between time since menopause and Hmean (r=–0.14, p= 0.03) in the 241 postmenopausal women included in the study. Hmean was significantly lower in a group of postmenopausal women without HRT (n= 110) compared with a group of age-matched postmenopausal women with HRT (n = 110): respectively 0.683 ± 0.043 and 0.695 ± 0.038 (p= 0.03). In conclusion, this study suggests that there is a menopause- and age-related decrease in the Hmean parameter and that HRT interferes with the results of the fractal analysis of trabecular bone texture on calcaneus radiographs. Received: 2 March 2001 / Accepted: 2 October 2001     

血清催产素浓度与绝经后女性骨密度相关性研究

目的探讨催产素与绝经后妇女骨代谢指标以及腰椎和髋部骨密度之间相关性。方法检测185例骨密度正常和132例患骨质疏松症女性的血清催产素、瘦素、雌激素和骨代谢指标浓度。腰椎和股骨颈的BMD通过双能X线吸收法测量。结果患骨质疏松症女性的血清催产素浓度低于骨密度正常的女性(P0.05)。骨质疏松症组中血清催产素浓度与年龄、绝经年限、体质量指数(body mass index,BMI)和血清PINP、BLAP和CTX浓度呈负相关;与瘦素和雌激素具有明显正相关性;在正常骨密度组中,血清催产素浓度和各种指标未发现明显的相关性。调整年龄和BMI后,腰椎和股骨颈骨密度仍然与绝经年限以及血清PINP、BLAP和CTX浓度呈负相关,与雌激素、瘦素和催产素浓度呈正相关。对年龄和BMI进行调整后,进行多元回归分析显示绝经年限、血清催产素、PINP和CTX是腰椎和股骨颈骨密度的显著预测因子。结论绝经后女性患者较高的血清催产素水平与较高的腰椎和股骨颈骨密度有关。     

Evaluation of trabecular microarchitecture in nonosteoporotic postmenopausal women with and without fracture

This study compared microscopic magnetic resonance imaging (μMRI) parameters of trabecular microarchitecture between postmenopausal women with and without fracture who have normal or osteopenic bone mineral density (BMD) on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). It included 36 postmenopausal white women 50 years of age and older with normal or osteopenic BMD (T-scores better than -2.5 at the lumbar spine, proximal femur, and one-third radius on DXA). Eighteen women had a history of low-energy fracture, whereas 18 women had no history of fracture and served as an age, race, and ultradistal radius BMD-matched control group. A three-dimensional fast large-angle spin-echo (FLASE) sequence with 137 μm × 137 μm × 400 μm resolution was performed through the nondominant wrist of all 36 women using the same 1.5T scanner. The high-resolution images were used to measure trabecular bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, surface-to-curve ratio, and erosion index. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare differences in BMD and μMRI parameters between postmenopausal women with and without fracture. Post-menopausal women with fracture had significantly lower (p < 0.05) trabecular bone volume fraction and surface-to-curve ratio and significantly higher (p < 0.05) erosion index than postmenopausal women without fracture. There was no significant difference between postmenopausal women with and without fracture in trabecular thickness (p = 0.80) and BMD of the spine (p = 0.21), proximal femur (p = 0.19), one-third radius (p = 0.47), and ultradistal radius (p = 0.90). Postmenopausal women with normal or osteopenic BMD who had a history of low-energy fracture had significantly different (p < 0.05) μMRI parameters than an age, race, and ultradistal radius BMD-matched control group of postmenopausal women with no history of fracture. Our study suggests that μMRI can be used to identify individuals without a DXA-based diagnosis of osteoporosis who have impaired trabecular microarchitecture and thus a heretofore-unappreciated elevated fracture risk.     

Diagnostic Sensitivity of Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography Measurements at Ultradistal and Proximal Radius in Postmenopausal Women

Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) is a bone densitometry technique that is able to provide real volumetric bone density values not only of the total but also of trabecular and cortical bone separately. Normal reference curves were constructed with cross-sectional data obtained in 275 postmenopausal women (50–85 years), measured at 4% of the ulnar length (ultradistal region), and data for total, trabecular, and cortical bone density were obtained. In these postmenopausal subjects, continuously significant (p < 0.0001) age-dependent declines in bone density of 1.14%, 1.1%, and 0.57% for total, trabecular, and cortical bone, respectively, were observed while similar declines of 0.9%, 0.9%, and 0.4% per year since menopause, respectively, were found. The estimated mechanical stability index also showed linear dependencies with decreases of 0.84%/year and 0.6%/year since menopause (p < 0.0001). A more proximal acquisition at 15% of the ulnar length, an almost pure cortical region, resulted in linear declines of 0.41%/year and 0.27%/year (p < 0.0001) for the cortical bone and the mechanical stability index with significant changes of −0.27% and −0.23% per year, respectively, since menopause. Covariance analysis showed similar age dependencies of the different bone indices obtained in both regions of interest except for the stability index. A significant size adaptation of the bone with age was also observed, which was seen in the relationships of the trabecular and cortical bone areas to age and to bone density. Diagnostic sensitivity of all parameters for established osteoporosis was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, comparing 99 patients with at least one fracture to the reference population. The area under these curves was highest in the ultradistal pure trabecular density of the radius (75%), followed by stability index (72%) and the area of cortical bone (65%) of the proximal site. No distinguishing power was seen for the cortical bone density values obtained in either the ultradistal (51%) or proximal radius (52%).     

Prevalence and risk factors of distal radius and calcaneus bone mineral density in Korean population

To estimate the prevalence and the related risk factors of low bone mineral density of the calcaneus and the distal radius, a community-based study was conducted in three rural areas of Korea. A total of 1420 women and 732 men aged 40 years and older participated in this study. Information on sociodemographic characteristics and the potential risk factors for osteoporosis were collected by an interviewer-administered standardized questionnaire. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the calcaneus and the distal radius were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Three hundred and seventeen women and 183 men aged 20–29 years who participated in a regular health check-up were used as a reference population. Osteoporosis was defined using WHO criteria. Odds ratios of the risk factors of osteoporosis were calculated by the unconditional logistic regression model. The standardized prevalence of osteoporosis of the calcaneus was 8.4% for males and 27.3% for females using the Korean population of year 2000 as a standard population. The standardized prevalence of osteoporosis of the distal radius was 4.2% for males and 18.8% for females. Older age and lower body mass index (BMI) were related with low BMD in both the calcaneus and distal radius in males and females. The duration after menopause and the number of live births were an independent risk factor for osteoporosis of the calcaneus (OR=1.1, 95% CI=1.00–1.11; the duration after menopause; OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.20–3.35, the number of live birth) and a familial history of non-traumatic fractures or osteoporosis among the first-degree relatives was significantly related to a increased risk of osteoporosis of the distal radius in females (OR=2.9, 95% CI=1.36–6.31).     

Reduction in normalized bone elasticity following long-term bisphosphonate treatment as measured by ultrasound critical angle reflectometry

Using an improved version of ultrasound critical angle reflectometry, the bone quality of cortical and trabecular bone was assessed in vivo by measuring elastic moduli (normalized for bone density) at both principal axes, referred to as the minimum and maximum normalized elasticities. The measurements were made in 30 normal premenopausal women, 30 normal postmenopausal women, 22 untreated postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, 74 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteopenia on bisphosphonate treatment, and 32 patients with renal transplantation (16 women and 16 men) taking steroids. Cortical elasticity was higher than trabecular elasticity; both declined slightly and non-significantly with age in normal women. Among untreated postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, cortical maximum normalized elasticity (E_cmax) remained within 95% prediction intervals of normal women. Among patients on bisphosphonate, E_cmax was low in the majority of patients. E_cmax was significantly more depressed among those taking the drug 3 years than <3 years (22.1% below normal premenopausal women versus 17.2%, P =0.001), and among those with incident non-spinal fractures than without (75.9 vs. 81.5%, P =0.008). E_cmax was independent of bone mineral density at the calcaneus. Most patients with renal transplantation had low E_cmax, with a mean 20.8% below the normal premenopausal mean. Qualitatively similar findings were found with cortical minimum elasticity and with trabecular minimum and maximum elasticities. Thus, the material bone quality of cortical and trabecular bone may be impaired following bisphosphonate treatment, as in renal transplantation on steroids.     

Cross-sectional and longitudinal assessment of pre- and postmenopausal bone loss with a portable forearm X-ray device: the Ofely study

The aim of our study was to describe cross-sectional and longitudinal bone mineral decrease in pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal healthy women using a monoenergy X-ray densitometer specifically designed for forearm assessement. Measurements were performed on the most distal part of the radius (ultradistal, 55% of trabecular bone and 45% of trabecular bone), and on the distal part (distal, 13% of trabecular bone and 87% of cortical bone). A specific trabecular-rich region of interest (nROI) comprising two trapezoids regions of interest located proximally to the endplates of the radius and ulna was also investigated. From a large prospective study (OFELY study), 455 women were measured once a year for 2 years (three measurements). The proportion of postmenopausal women classified as having osteoporosis (i.e., a T score <-2.5) was 33% for the distal region, 44% for the ultradistal region, and 45% for the nROI. No significant bone mineral decrease was found over the 2-year period in premenopausal women (n = 138). In perimenopausal (n = 48) women, a bone loss of 1% was found at the distal site. In the 269 postmenopausal women, a significant decrease was observed at all sites, ranging from 2.14% for the nROI to 2.68% for the ultradistal part. Bone loss was greater in the first 5 years after menopause in trabecular sites and decreased thereafter. For the distal site, bone loss remained stable during the postmenopausal period. We conclude that this small and portable forearm densitometer is suitable for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, and provides information on the rate of bone loss in peri- and postmenopausal women in trabecular and cortical compartments of bone.     

Postmenopausal osteoporosis. Digital Rx radiogrammetry in the diagnosis and follow-up of treatment with alfacalcidol

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is characterised by an increased resorption of trabecular bone, a consequence of estrogen deficit. Changes in vitamin D metabolism are also an important contributors to the development of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Vitamin D and its active metabolites (Alfacalcidol, Calcitriol) perform important functions in regulation of the calcium balance and the bone metabolism. Aim of our study was to determine the efficacy of Alfacalcidol (Alpha D3) in reducing the loss of bone mass. 391 postmenopausal women with osteopenia and 165 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were treated 24 months with Alfacalcidol. The bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by Digital Rx Radiogrammetry (DXR). In osteopenic women treated with 0.5 mg Alfacalcidol, bone mineral density increased after 12 and 24 months with 3.4% and 2.3%. In osteoporotic women the increase of BMD was 1.8% and 2.4% after 12 and respectively 24 months. On the control group BMD decreased with 3.4% after 24 months. In our study Alfacalcidol confirmed the abolishment of the loss of bone mass.