BONE DENSITOMETRY PROFILE IN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS

The association between bone disease and chronic liver disease defines the concept of hepatic osteodystrophy. It is associated with an increased risk of fracture resulting in increased morbidity and impaired quality of life. The aim of our work was to evaluate the prevalence of bone loss in cirrhosis and to identify the main risk factors associated with this anomaly. We conducted a prospective study including 50 consecutive cirrhotic patients. Bone mineral density was assessed by bone densitometry; osteoporosis: T-score<-2.5 DS. Fifty patients were included. The diagnosis of cirrhosis was made for a mean of 38.06 ± 45.85 months. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 36% and that of osteopenia 34%. In multivariate analysis female gender (p=0.007) low weight (p<0.001) and presence of ascites (p<0.001) were significantly associated with osteoporosis.In our series bone loss was present in more than 2/3 of the patients regardless of the etiology of cirrhosis the age and severity of the disease.