LUMBAR SPINE BONE-DENSITY IN ARGENTINE CHILDREN

It has been demonstrated that bone mineral density (BMD) in children a nd adolescents is influenced by individual height. The aim of the pres ent work was to introduce a formula to include height in the BMD analy sis. Postero-anterior (PA) (L2-L4) and lateral (L2-L3) lumbar BMD was assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 433 and 393, respective ly, healthy Caucasian females from 2 to 20 years of age. A complete me dical examination in eluding weight, height, and Tanner puberal stage was per formed in all the subjects. Bone age was assessed by left wris t radiographs and analyzed by the TW2 method to insure that it was wit hin 1 year of chronological age, Bone mineral density adjusted for hei ght (BMD(corr) = BMC/projected area x height), was calculated for each individual. As analyzed by Tanner stage, both PA and lateral BMD incr eased up to stage 3, and there were no significant differences among s tages 3-5. Results of BMD(corr) variations related to Tanner stage sug gested that the increase in lateral BMD before puberty might be relate d to height. PA BMD(corr) increased up to Tanner stage 3, and there we re no differences among stages 3-5. The BMD(CORR) approach can be used to get a more reliable analysis of BMD studies in children and adoles cents.