BONE LOSS RATE IN THE LUMBAR SPINE - A COMPARISON BETWEEN NATURAL ANDSURGICALLY INDUCED MENOPAUSE

Objective: To compare the bone loss between natural and surgically ind uced menopause by dual photon absorbsiometry (DPA) and quantitative co mputed tomography (QCT). Methods: The study group included 365 women, who were in menopause for at least 6 months. Of all patients, 272 beca me menopausal naturally and 93 surgically. Spinal bone mineral density (BMD) of the women was determined by DPA in 201 patients and by QCT i n 164. Regression analysis was used to correlate BMD and months since menopause. Results: Measurements with DPA did not show any significant difference in bone loss between natural and surgical menopause patien ts, whereas in the group of patients of whom BMD is measured by QCT, a relatively increased bone loss rate is found in surgically induced me nopause patients. Conclusions: Oopherectomized women seemed to suffer a relatively higher bone loss rate compared with natural menopause.