Abstract
Bone mineral density, gr/cm2, (BHD) of the lumbar spine, L2-L4, was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (Lunar DPX) in 9 anorexia nervosa female patients aged 14 to 17 years, and compared with that of 54 normal age-and sex-matched controls.
All patients had had regular menses one or more years before the start of the amenorrheic period. At the time of BMD evaluation amenorrhea ranged from 2 to 12 months, weight loss from 13% to 41%, mean value 33.9% in relation to ideal height/weight ratio, and body mass index from 13.41 to 17.70, mean value 15.21.
BHD was less than −1 SD of normal age-matched controls in five patients and higher in four. No correlation was found between BHD values and weight loss, or with body mass index. However, a significant and statistically negative correlation was found between BHD values and the period of amenorrhea (r= *minus;0.80, p< 0.01, n=9).
Follow-up (6-14 mo.) of three patients with BHD values less than - 1SD, showed no increase in BHD values despite a significant weight gain (body mass index changed from 13.68 +/− 0.3 to 17.88 +/− 2.27, p<0.01, n = 3). All three patients remained amenorrheic during this period.
In conclusion, BMD values are decreased in some patients with anorexia nervosa. BMD values correlated negatively with the duration of amenorrhea. The significant weight increase in these patients was not accompanied by a parallel BMD increase since amenorrhea persisted during this period. Our results underline the importance of estrogens in the maintenance of BMD values in female adolescent patients.
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Gusainyé, M., Carrascosa, A., Del Rio, L. et al. BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN ANOREXIA NERVOSA PATIENTS. RELATION TO WEIGH LOSS, BODY MASS INDEX AND PERIOD OF AHENORRHEA. Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S80 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00464
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00464