[Bone mineral density in some lung diseases]

Bone mineral density (BMD) was studied in 93 patients, including 24 patients with nonspecific lung diseases (NLD), 20 with sarcoidosis, 23 with cancer, and 26 with tuberculosis. Among the patients from different groups, the most profound BMD changes were recorded in those with lung cancer. As compared with other groups, the patients of this group were elder and accordingly had many concomitant diseases, which was likely to affect the status of BMD. BMD changes were more marked in patients with tuberculosis than in those of the same age who had NLD and sarcoidosis. All the patients were found to risk factors of osteoporosis, such as alcohol abuse and smoking. The patients with sarcoidosis displayed less pronounced BMD changes, although they did not differ in age from patients with tuberculosis and NLD. Furthermore, women at the highest risk of osteoporosis were prevalent.