BONE-MINERAL CONTENT IN PATIENTS WITH CROHNS-DISEASE - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY IN PATIENTS WITH BOWEL RESECTIONS

Background: Low bone mineral content (BMC) has been reported in patien ts with inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of the present study was t o measure BMC in patients with Crohn's disease. Methods: BMC was monit ored for a mean period of 5.5 years in 108 patients. The patients were divided into two groups: group A, patients with the colon preserved; group B, patients with a resected colon. The mean length of the resect ed small intestine was 90 cm. Results: The BMC of the lumbar spine exp ressed as Z-score (tactual value - mean)/s) was significantly reduced: mean Z-score for group A, -0.51, P < 0.05; group B, -0.80, P < 0.001. The BMC of the femoral neck was significantly reduced: mean Z-score f or group A, -1.24, P < 0.001; group B, -1.73, P < 0.001. A Z-score bel ow -2.0 of spine or femoral neck BMC was found in 10% and 23% of the p atients, respectively. The BMC of the femoral neck decreased significa ntly in both groups during the study period (group A, -2.2%, P < 0.001 ; group B, -1.21%, P < 0.05). The BMC of the lumbar spine did not chan ge. There was an inverse correlation between the initial Z-score and t he rate of change in BMC (P < 0.05). We found no correlation between Z -score or change in BMC and period of prednisolone treatment. Moreover , there was no correlation between the length of the resected small in testine and BMC or annual percentage change in BMC. Conclusion: At inc lusion the BMC of the spine and femoral neck was low in patients with Crohn's disease. During the study significant bone loss was only demon strated in the femoral neck. BMC or rate of change in BMC was not rela ted to treatment with steroids or length of the resected small intesti ne.