Bone mineral density in children with cirrhosis

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Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

Nuray Uslu1, Inci Nur Saltik-Temizel, Hülya Demir

  • 1Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Ankara 06100, Turkey.

Journal of Gastroenterology
|October 19, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Children with cirrhosis have significantly lower bone mineral density and content compared to healthy children. Early evaluation for osteopenia is recommended for pediatric cirrhosis patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Hepatology
  • Bone Metabolism

Background:

  • Osteoporosis is a significant concern in adults with cirrhosis, but data on pediatric populations are limited.
  • This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding bone health in children suffering from cirrhosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate and compare bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) in children with cirrhosis versus healthy controls.
  • To determine if children with cirrhosis exhibit reduced bone mass.

Main Methods:

  • Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure lumbar spine BMD and BMC in 40 children with cirrhosis (mean age 10.4 years).
  • Results were compared to 62 age- and sex-matched healthy children.
  • Statistical analysis controlled for confounding factors like weight, height, and pubertal stage.

Main Results:

  • Children with cirrhosis showed significantly lower mean lumbar spine BMD (0.482 g/cm²) compared to healthy controls (0.687 g/cm²; P < 0.0001).
  • Mean lumbar spine BMC was also significantly reduced in children with cirrhosis (20.008 g) versus controls (32.859 g; P < 0.0001).
  • These differences remained significant after adjusting for weight, height, and pubertal stage.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric patients with cirrhosis exhibit significantly diminished bone mineral density and content.
  • These findings underscore the need for routine bone health assessment in children diagnosed with cirrhosis.
  • Early detection and management of osteopenia are crucial for this vulnerable pediatric group.
Abstract

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