VERTEBRAL BONE LOSS IN PERIMENOPAUSAL WOM EN - RESULTS OF A 7-YEAR LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

Objectives: Rapid bone loss after menopause is generally recognized al though the exact chronology of the events, particularly in relation to onset of amenorrhea, remains poorly understood, We assessed bone loss in perimenopausal women over a 7-year period. Methods: Twenty-one wom en with an uneventful past history were enrolled before menopause and followed until menopause had been completely established. Vertebral bo ne density was measured by biphotonic absorptiometry annually over two 2-year periods. Individual variations in bone density were calculated according to onset of menopause. Results: Bone loss in the vertebral body increased during the two years preceding menopause (-1.6+/-1.5% p er year), reached a peak during the first three post-menopausal years (-2.4 +/- 1.6% per year), and then fell off (-1.2 +/- 1.4% per year). Conclusion: Bone loss was independent of calcium intake and appeared t o be related mainly to characteristic hormone changes during the perim enopausal period, These findings raise the question as to the need and means of prevention.