The velocity (SOS), attenuation slope (BUA) and stiffness index in the
os calcis were measured using the 'Achilles' ultrasound bone densitom
eter (Lunar, Madison, WI). We evaluated the basic attributes of this u
ltrasound bone densitometer, and showed the age-related changes in ult
rasound values in normal Japanese women. The precision was measured in
vivo on ten occasions over a 2-week period in 5 subjects. The short-t
erm precision errors (CVs) in vivo were 0.6% for stiffness index, 0.3%
for SOS and 1.0% for BUA. Spine, femur neck and total body BMD using
dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were highly correlated with stiffness
index (r=0.80, 0.77 and 0.78, respectively) in 194 subjects. Ultrasoun
d values for patients with osteoporosis were significantly lower than
those for the normal controls. The Z-score compared with young normals
was significantly higher for spine bone mineral density (-4.4) than f
or stiffness index (-3.5); BUA and SOS gave significantly lower Z-scor
es -2.9 and -3.0, respectively). Ultrasound values were also lower com
pared with age-matched normal controls. The Z-score for stiffness inde
x (-2.1) was significantly superior to that for either SOS or BUA (-1.
5). Age-related change in ultrasound values was evaluated in 842 norma
l women. There was a decline in stiffness index of about 24% from the
values in young adulthood to those of women in their seventies, about
75% of which occurred from age 44-49 years onward. These findings seem
to indicate that the menopause affected the change in ultrasound valu
es. In conclusion, ultrasound bone densitometry may not be as useful a
s DXA of the spine for screening for osteoporosis, since the Z-score f
or DXA is excellent. However, ultrasound bone densitometry appears pot
entially to be applicable to problems in the diagnosis and management
of osteoporosis when used in association with DXA.