OSTEOPENIA IN PRIMARY BILIARY-CIRRHOSIS - STUDY OF 20 PATIENTS

We studied 20 female patients, aged 51 +/- 13.6 years old, with the di agnosis of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) to assess osteopenia, main involved sites and its relation to menopause, some parameters of miner al metabolism and the degree of histological liver involvement. The di agnosis of PBC was based in histological, clinical and laboratory feat ures. Bone densitometry was measured with a dual-photon densitometer a nd compared with values of a normal female population from the laborat ory. When compared to controls, studied patients had a significantly l ower lumbar spine bone density and total bone mineral content and a no n significantly lower density in femoral neck and total body. Serum ca lcium, phosphorus, magnesium, PTH and urinary calcium/creatinine ratio were within normal limits. Lumbar spine density was not significantly lower in patients with more severe liver histological involvement and in postmenopausal women. No correlation was found between the duratio n of postmenopausal period and the degree of osteopenia. It is conclud ed that patients with PBC have a clear lumbar spine osteopenia and a l ower total mineral content and that these parameters worsen in a non s ignificant fashion in subjects along with liver histological involveme nt and with the length of post menopausal period