INFLUENCE OF THE CLIMACTERIC ON THE BONE MASS OF THE SPINE AND FEMUR

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between the bone mass of the l umbar spine and the neck of the femur in Spanish climacteric women. ME THOD: Bone mass was measured using quantitative digital radiology in 2 00 climacteric women who had no record of receiving hormone replacemen t therapy. RESULT: A statistically significant correlation (P < 0. 05) is observed between the bone mineral density and 'content of the lumb ar spine and the femur in all the groups of climacteric women, althoug h only in the postmenopausal women does it approach 70%. A direct rela tionship is observed between the loss of bone mass and the onset of th e menopause, as well as with the patients' body mass index. CONCLUSION : When the different parameters are analyzed, the results show that me asurement of the lumbar spine is essential, and measurement of the fem ur should not be used as a substitute, but rather in addition to it.