Bone mass status in different degrees of chronic renal failure

Bone mineral density (BMD) was evaluated in 69 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and in healthy controls matched for age, sex, and, for women, menopausal status. Both appendicular (predominantly cortical) and axial (predominantly trabecular) bone mass were measured. Appendicular BMD was measured by single photon absorptiometry on the distal forearm and axial BMD was measured by dual photon absorptiometry on the lumbar spine. Patients were divided into three groups on the basis of creatinine clearance: group 1, 58 to 36 ml/min; group 2, 30 to 18 ml/min; group 3, 15 to 9 ml/min. Both appendicular and axial BMD decreased with the worsening of renal failure. Parathyroid hormone levels were inversely correlated with the values of appendicular BMD. BMD values were significantly lower in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women. Months of menopause were inversely correlated with axial BMD values. Appendicular BMD was lower in CRF patients than in controls, and both appendicular and axial BMD were significantly lower in postmenopausal uremic women than in postmenopausal healthy women.