Bone mineral density status in women with limbus vertebra

Abstract

Although genetics and cumulative mechanical stress on an immature skeleton have been proposed to play a role in the development of the limbus vertebra (LV), there is no data concerning the actual degree of bone strength and bone loss in patients with LV. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) and the prevalence of osteoporosis in women with LV and compare with age-and body mass index-matched women. Method: This study was carried out on 171 women (aged 40-49 years) with LV and 190 women without LV. Lumbar spine BMD values were obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: A total of 361 patients were included in the study. The mean total BMD value was significantly lower (0.876 ± 0.155 vs. 0.966 ± 0.187 g/cm2, p < 0.0001), and the mean T-score value was significantly higher (-1.6 ± 1.41 vs.-0.8 ± 1.71, p < 0.0001) in patients with LV. Although the frequency of both osteopenia and osteoporosis were higher in patients with LV, the difference reached statistical significance only for osteoporosis (p = 0.007). Conclusions: Women with LV have lower BMD values and higher osteoporosis rates than age-and BMImatched controls; therefore, osteoporosis should be evaluated in these patients.