Predicting bone mineral density of postmenopausal healthy and cirrhotic Italian women using anthropometric variables

Background. Chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis of the liver, have been shown to cause bone osteometabolic disease giving rise to osteoporosis and osteomalacia. Aims. To develop mathematical prediction equations for the lumbar-spine, pelvis and total bone mineral density based on the osteoporosis risk factors age and body mass index in cirrhotic and healthy postmenopausal women. Patients. Twenty-seven postmenopausal women with liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class A) and well-preserved liver function (Late postmenopausal cirrhotic), 27 women matched for age and body mass index (Late postmenopausal healthy) and 27 younger women matched only for body mass index (Early postmenopausal healthy). Methods. Segmental and total fat mass, lean body mass and bone mineral density were measured for all participant women using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Results. Segmental and total fat mass and bone mineral density were significantly lower for Late postmenopausal cirrhotic women as compared with Late and Early postmenopausal healthy women. Segmental and total lean body mass were comparable among the three study groups. Conclusions. The mathematical equations based on the variables age and body mass index were capable of predicting lumbar-spine bone mineral density, pelvis bone mineral density and total bone mineral density for the three groups of postmenopausal women with the lowest standard error of estimation and root mean square residuals of predictions for equations describing the Late postmenopausal healthy group. © 2003 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.