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Bone mineral density in children with sickle cell anemia
Author(s) -
Lal Ashutosh,
Fung Ellen B.,
Pakbaz Zahra,
HackneyStephens Ekua,
Vichinsky Elliott P.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.20681
Subject(s) - medicine , bone mineral , vitamin d and neurology , confidence interval , sickle cell anemia , bone density , femur , lumbar , pediatrics , anemia , thalassemia , population , osteoporosis , gastroenterology , surgery , disease , environmental health
Purpose We evaluated bone mineral density (BMD) and risk factors for poor bone mineralization in children with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Patients and Methods Twenty‐five children with severe manifestations of SCA (frequent hospitalizations, growth delay, or need for chronic red cell transfusions) were enrolled. Bone density was assessed at lumbar spine and proximal femur with dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), and Z‐scores were calculated by comparison with age, sex, and ethnicity‐specific reference data. Results The median age of the study population was 12.8 years (10.2–19.8 years). Calcium intake was inadequate in 60%, and serum 25‐hydroxy vitamin D (25‐OHD) level <50 nM in 74% of patients. Median Z‐scores for lumbar spine (−2.3) and proximal femur (−1.7) were markedly reduced, and 64% (95% confidence interval, 43%–82%) of patients had low bone density. Z‐scores were not related to age, growth delay, chronic transfusions, or ferritin level. Conclusion Our results suggest that children with severe manifestations of SCA have low BMD, and possess significant deficits in dietary calcium and circulating vitamin D. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.