Bone mineral density in adults with Marfan syndrome

Objectives. Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) has been reported in pre-men opausal women and children with Marfan syndrome (MFS). The bone mineral sta tus of adult men with MFS is unknown. The objective of this study was to de termine the BMD of adult men and women with MFS. Methods BMD (g/cm(2)) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA ) of the lumbar spine (L1-L4), femoral neck and total hip in 25 adults (12 male) who fulfilled the 1996 MFS diagnostic criteria. The results were comp ared with age- and sex-matched controls and expressed as S.D. from the popu lation mean (z score). Results. Overall, BMD was significantly reduced in the lumbar spine (z = -0 .42 +/- 0.97, P < 0.05); total hip (z = -0.57 +/- 0.88, P < 0.005) and femo ral neck (z = -0.51 +/- 0.88, P < 0.005). In women alone, BMD was reduced a t the femoral neck (z = -0.53 +/- 0.95, P < 0.05) and at the hip (z = -0.64 +/- 0.77, P < 0.005). In men, BMD was reduced at the femoral neck (z = -0. 48 +/- 0.84, P < 0.05) with a non-significant trend to lower BMD at the hip (z = -0.49 +/- 1.01, P = 0.054) and lumbar spine (z = -0.59 +/- 1.02, P = 0.09). Conclusion. Axial BMD is lower than normal in Marfan adults. This reduction may contribute to fractures seen in the Marfan population.