BONE-MINERAL CONTENT IN PATIENTS ON HOME PARENTERAL-NUTRITION

Bone mineral content (BMC) was monitored in 15 patients with short bow el syndrome receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN). Thirteen patien ts had Crohn's disease and 2 ulcerative colitis (mean age 36 years, ra nge 23-69 years). During the study the patients received HPN for a mea n period of 62 months, range 20-106 months. At the time of inclusion t he patients had a significantly reduced BMC of lumbar spine and femora l neck compared to normals (Z-scores = -3.35 +/- 3.49, p < 0.05 and Z- score = -2.23 +/- 2.11, p < 0.05). During HPN the Z-score of lumbar sp ine BMC decreased in 8 patients and increased slightly or was unchange d in 7 patients. The mean Z-score of BMC of lumbar spine declined by 1 .46 +/- 2.48 (p < 0.05) and the Z-score of femoral neck BMC declined b y 0.831 +/- 1.14 (p < 0.05). This corresponds to a yearly decrease of lumbar spine BMC of 4%. There was no correlation between the decline i n BMC during the study and the period of length the patients were on H PN. We conclude that patients on HPN have a low bone mineral density a nd that the bone loss continues during prolonged HPN.