Vertebral deformities and fractures are associated with MRI and pQCT measures obtained at the distal tibia and radius of postmenopausal women

Abstract

Summary We investigated the association of postmenopausal vertebral deformities and fractures with bone parameters derived from distal extremities using MRI and pQCT. Distal extremity measures showed variable degrees of association with vertebral deformities and fractures, highlighting the systemic nature of postmenopausal bone loss. Introduction Prevalent vertebral deformities and fractures are known to predict incident further fractures. However, the association of distal extremity measures and vertebral deformities in postmenopausal women has not been fully established. Methods This study involved 98 postmenopausal women (age range 60–88 years, mean 70 years) with DXA BMD T-scores at either the hip or spine in the range of −1.5 to −3.5. Wedge, biconcavity, and crush deformities were computed on the basis of spine MRI. Vertebral fractures were assessed using Eastell's criterion. Distal tibia and radius stiffness was computed using MRI-based finite element analysis. BMD at the distal extremities were obtained using pQCT. Results Several distal extremity MRI and pQCT measures showed negative association with vertebral deformity on the basis of single parameter correlation (r up to 0.67) and two-parameter regression (r up to 0.76) models involving MRI stiffness and pQCT BMD. Subjects who had at least one prevalent vertebral fracture showed decreased MRI stiffness (up to 17.9 %) and pQCT density (up to 34.2 %) at the distal extremities compared to the non-fracture group. DXA lumbar spine BMD T-score was not associated with vertebral deformities. Conclusions The association between vertebral deformities and distal extremity measures supports the notion of postmenopausal osteoporosis as a systemic phenomenon.

Changes in bone microarchitecture following kidney transplantation—Beyond bone mineral density

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Adverse Fat Depots and Marrow Adiposity Are Associated With Skeletal Deficits and Insulin Resistance in Long-Term Survivors of Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

“…High‐resolution distal tibia images in alloHSCT and matched controls were acquired using a 1.5‐T whole‐body scanner (Siemens Sonata, Erlangen, Germany), as described . Digital topological analysis parameters were surface‐to‐curve ratio (an index of a plate‐like versus rod‐like structure) and erosion index; a lower surface‐to‐curve ratio and greater erosion index have been associated with vertebral deformities …”

“…(22) Digital topological analysis parameters were surface-to-curve ratio (an index of a plate-like versus rod-like structure) and erosion index (23) ; a lower surface-to-curve ratio and greater erosion index have been associated with vertebral deformities. (24) Lumbar spine magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) was performed on the same scanner. A 2D interleaved multiple-gradient-echo chemical-shift imaging sequence was implemented to quantify lipid content in marrow using the manufacturer's spine and body matrix coils.…”

MRI assessment of bone structure and microarchitecture

“…This cohort was later analyzed using finite element analysis to estimate stiffness in the distal tibia and distal radius. 125 Total tibial stiffness correlated with biconcave fractures (r 5 0.67, P < 0.005), wedge fractures (r 5 0.57, P < 0.005), but not crush fractures (r 5 0.27, P > 0.05). With the exception of the total radial stiffness and biconcave fractures (r 5 0.40, P < 0.05), radial measures were not correlated with fracture type (r 5 0.07-0.32, P > 0.05).…”

“…The combination of distal radial trabecular surface density and trabecular bone volume fraction were found to account for 30% of the variation of spinal deformity index ( r 2 = 0.31, P < 0.0001) independent of spinal BMD, which demonstrated no significant correlation with spinal deformity ( r = 0.16, P = 0.09). This cohort was later analyzed using finite element analysis to estimate stiffness in the distal tibia and distal radius . Total tibial stiffness correlated with biconcave fractures ( r = 0.67, P < 0.005), wedge fractures ( r = 0.57, P < 0.005), but not crush fractures ( r = 0.27, P > 0.05).…”