ULTRASOUND TRANSMISSION VELOCITY OF THE PROXIMAL PHALANXES OF THE NONDOMINANT HAND IN THE STUDY OF OSTEOPOROSIS

The aim of our study was to evaluate a quantitative ultrasound techniq ue for measuring bone tissue at the proximal phalanxes of the non-domi nant hand. We correlated the mean value of the amplitude-dependent spe ed of sound (AD-SoS) measured at the distal metaphysis of the last fou r proximal phalanxes with age, months since menopause and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine in 264 women. We further assessed t he ability of the AD-SoS to discriminate between normal and osteoporot ic subjects with documented vertebral fractures. We found a positive c orrelation between the AD-SoS and the lumbar spine BMD, whereas the AD -SoS negatively correlated with age and months since menopause. The AD -SoS showed a higher correlation with age changes and months since men opause than BMD. The AD-SoS was significantly higher in healthy female s than in osteoporotic ones (p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed for age adjusted values that AD-SoS decrease is signif icantly associated to the presence of fracture. Our results suggest th at AD-SoS is valuable in assessing age and menopause related bone loss and is useful for diagnosing osteoporosis.