The ability of lumbar spine DXA and phalanx QUS to detect previous fractures in young thalassemic patients with hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and hepatitis-B: A 2-year subgroup analysis from the Taranto Area of Apulia Region.
Argentiero, Alberto;
Neglia, Cosimo;
Peluso, Angelo;
di Rosa, Salvatore;
Ferrarese, Antonio;
Di Tanna, Gianluca;
Caiaffa, Vincenzo;
Benvenuto, Marco;
Cozma, Alexandru;
Chitano, Giovanna;
+5 more...Agnello, Nadia;
Paladini, Daniele;
Baldi, Nicola;
Distante, Alessandro;
Piscitelli, Prisco;
(2013)
The ability of lumbar spine DXA and phalanx QUS to detect previous fractures in young thalassemic patients with hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and hepatitis-B: A 2-year subgroup analysis from the Taranto Area of Apulia Region.
Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology, 35 (6).
e260-e264.
ISSN 1077-4114
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MPH.0b013e31828e6cab
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BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a leading cause of morbidity in patients affected by β-thalassemia major or intermediate; we aimed to assess the association between demineralization observed in young thalassemic patients. METHODS: A total of 88 patients with β-thalassemia were recruited at Microcitemia Center of Taranto Hospital under the Prevention Osteoporosis and Fractures research project from 2008 to 2010. All the patients were screened with both dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative ultrasound (QUS). T score and Z score values were obtained for each subject. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of demineralization was 84% with DXA and 70% with QUS, whereas normality was found in 16% of patients screened with DXA and in 30% of cases with QUS. Hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis-B, and the presence of previous fragility fractures were significantly associated with the demineralization status (lower T scores values) both with DXA and QUS. CONCLUSION: Our data confirm that DXA and QUS examinations are both useful for detecting bone demineralization in thalassemic patients.
