Bone density in young males with recently diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease are at increased risk of developing osteopenia and osteoporosis. Our study was designed to determine the degree of decreased bone density in steroid naïve young male patients with inflammatory bowel disease and to unmask possible risk factors.

Before the initiation of any treatment in young male patients aged 26 +/- 4.8 years with inflammatory bowel disease, ultrasound bone density measurement at the right calcaneous was performed using a Lunar Achilles plus device. Stiffness Index and T-score were measured. We also performed an ultrasound bone density measurement at right calcaneous in healthy age- and sex-matched controls.

Nine out of 32 patients with inflammatory bowel disease had osteopenia or osteoporosis (approximately 28%). Of controls, two individuals had osteopenia (approximately 7%). There was a positive correlation between T-score and body mass index, but not between T-score and age in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. There was a statistically significant difference in T-score between patients with disease duration>6 months and those with disease duration<6 months (P=0.032), but not between the patients with Crohn's disease compared with the patients with ulcerative colitis.

Steroid naïve young male patients with inflammatory bowel disease have lower bone density values than healthy controls. According to our findings, duration of disease above 6 months and low body mass index are major risk factors for low bone density in these patients. Bone density measurement should be performed in all patients with inflammatory bowel disease in an early stage of the disease.