Osteoporosis in Male and Female Leprosy Patients

We measured the bone mineral density (BMD) of 353 leprosy patients (197 males 50–89 years old, average age 70.2; and 156 females 53–90 years old, average age 72.9) and serum levels of free testosterone (FT) in 81 males. The BMD of the lumbar vertebrae (L2–L4), diaphysis of the radius (1/3 radius), and the neck of the femur (neck) was measured using DXA (QDR 4500). The BMD of −2.5 SD YAM (young adult mean) in Japanese men and women was used as the cutoff value for osteoporosis in the respective genders: BMD of L2–L4, 0.751 g/cm² (male), 0.747 g/cm² (female); 1/3 radius, 0.655 g/cm² (male), 0.550 g/cm² (female); neck, 0.581 g/cm² (female). The percentages of males with osteoporosis were 31.3% in the 50th, 32.9% in the 60th, 44.9% in the 70th, and 40.7% in the 80th decade at L2–L4. Similarly, the percentages were 33.3%, 58.3%, 74.3%, and 75.0%, respectively, at 1/3 radius. Among females, the percentages were 22.2%, 41.3%, 44.9%, and 68.8%, respectively, at L2–L4; 0%, 42.9%, 89.5%, and 78.6%, respectively, at 1/3 radius; and 11.1%, 38.6%, 67.7%, and 84.6% respectively, at neck. FT in men ranged from almost 0 to normal at each decade and BMD levels were significantly correlated with FT in all three regions of the skeleton (P < 0.0001). More than 30% of osteoporosis was found at each decade and FT may be one of the main factors affecting BMD in male leprosy patients. Received: 6 February 1998 / Accepted: 9 July 1998