OSTEOPENIA OF THE LUMBAR SPINE AND FEMORAL-NECK IN ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

  • 1 July 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (3) , 206-207
Abstract
The bone density in the spine, femoral neck and radius in 31 outpatients with anorexia nervosa (AN) was measured by photon absorptiometry and compared with 31 age matched controls. In all bone sites measured the patients with anorexia nervosa had reduced bone mineral density (spine- control 0.91 + .10 gHA/cm2, AN 0.75 +, .09 gHA/cm2; femur- control 0.87 + .09 gHA/cm2, AN 0.67 + .07 gHA/cm2; radius-control 0.41 + .04 gHA/cm2, AN 0.38 + 0.9 gHA/cm2). The mean difference between the groups was greatest in the femoral neck at 0.21 gHA/cm2 (95% CI 0.18-.024 P < 0.001) and least at the radius 0.04 gHA/cm2 (95% CI 0.02-0.06, p < 0.05), the lumbar spine was intermeidate with a mean difference of 0.16 gHA/cm2 (95% CI 0.12-0.2 p < 0.001). Femoral and spinal bone mineral density was positively correlated with body mass and negatively correlated with duration of amenorrhoea. Three of these patients had vertebral crush fractures which suggests that this diminution in bone density is of clinical significance.

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