Authors:
H.-J. Mentzel, P. Korman, A. Malich, K. W, M. Freesmeyer, S. Vogt, B. Blanz, W. A. Kaiser; Jena/DE
DOI:
10.1594/ECR03/C-0936
Conclusion
Only few female patients within the study showed osteopenic bone density values with the sonographic evaluation compared with a regional normal population in the baseline evaluation. Sonographic entered values in the sense of an Osteoporosis were with no female patient. The accelerated SOS and BUA values contradict earlier study results, which reported predominantly reduced bone density values for female patients with Anorexia nervosa. A possible reason for our differing results is that in our study very young female patients were accepted and that the bone density determination took place at an early illness stage. To discuss it is connected, whether at this early point in time of the illness a reduction of the fatty tissue took place predominantly, with appropriate modifications of the sonographically detectable bone density parameters, and it only in the further process to a reduction of the bone density comes. A correlation between Body mass index (BMI), duration of the disease and BUA could be shown by Resch et al. [2]. Schlamp et al. [5] reported data about trabecular bone density (TBD; distal end of the radius) and bone mineral density (BMD; DXA) in young anorectic females which were within the normal range at the onset of anorexia nervosa. In follow-up measurements they observed a significant reduction in TBD but not in BMD in most patients. In our study group of 25 females with follow-up investigations a reduction especially in SOS could be observed. Further subsequent investigations with our patients are necessary therefore. In conclusion, quantitative ultrasound is a portable and radiation-free technique that holds promise for evaluation both mineral density and structural or mechanical properties of the bone.