Bone mineral density in early breast cancer patients

Recent data indicate that women with breast cancer receiving aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are at increase risk of osteoporosis.

We evaluated 263 patients in our study, 42 receiving AI (22 - Arimidex, 20 - Femara), 69 selective estrogen receptor modulater (SERM - Tamoxifen), in 72 the therapy with SERM was changed for AI and 80 were in follow-up without hormonal therapy. We measured BMD by whole-body densitometer Hologic explorer. BMD of proximal femur and L spine was measured and evaluated and in case of degenerative changes also the region of distal forearm. We evaluated T-score. 43.

35% of the patients had decline of BMD to T-score of osteoporosis and only 13.31% of patients had normal bone density. 53.13% of the treated patients had BMD level of osteoporosis versus 40.2% of untreated patients or patients treated for less than one year. 3.13% of treated patients had normal BMD versus 16.58% of untreated patients (p = 0.015).

We confirm the influence of adjuvant AI therapy on decline of BMD in early breast cancer patients in our study. The bone loss was statistically significant in patients whose therapy lasted at least one year (Fig. 6, Ref. 20). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.