Osteodystrophy in posthepatitic cirrhosis

This study investigated the incidence and severity of hepatic osteodystroph y in patients with posthepatitic liver cirrhosis, and the role of hepatocel lular injury in bone loss. Twenty-four patients (15 females and 9 males, me an age 49 +/- 13 years) with posthepatitic cirrhosis were enrolled in this study. The control group consisted of 22 healthy age and sex matched adults . The bone mineral density (BMD) was evaluated by dual energy x-ray absorpt iometry of the L1-L4 vertebral bodies. A detailed questionnaire was used to assess the epidemiological findings. A statistically significant decrease in BMD of the patients was observed. There were no significant differences in the alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, 25-hydroxyvit amin D, osteocalcin, free testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimu lating hormone, and estradiol levels, oral calcium intake, urinary calcium, phosphorus and hydroxypyroline excretion between patients and controls. Th e control group smoked more cigarettes, consumed more coffee and meat, and were exposed the sun light for a longer period than the study group. Multip le regression analysis showed that osteopenia depends significantly on the extent of liver disease. The data shows that the patients with posthepatiti c cirrhosis had osteopenia, and that cirrhosis was a direct and independent risk factor.