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Bone mineral density, growth, pubertal development and other parameters in Brazilian children and young adults with sickle cell anaemia
Author(s) -
Meeuwes M.,
Souza de Carvalho T. F.,
Cipolotti R.,
Gurgel R. Q.,
Ferrão T. O.,
Peters M.,
Agyemang C.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12211
Subject(s) - medicine , bone mineral , anthropometry , context (archaeology) , body mass index , bone density , standard score , osteoporosis , pediatrics , paleontology , machine learning , computer science , biology
Abstract Objectives To evaluate the occurrence of low bone mineral density ( BMD ) and its relationship with clinical and laboratorial characteristics in children and young adults with sickle cell anaemia living in Northeast‐Brazil, and to assess the role of radiography in diagnosing low BMD . Methods Bone mineral density of lumbar spine was measured by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry ( DXA ) in 27 patients with Sickle cell anaemia ( SCA ) aged 7–28 years. Clinical history, calcium and calorie intake, laboratory measurements, anthropometrics and pubertal development were assessed, and X‐rays were obtained. Z‐scores and T‐scores for weight, height, Body Mass Index ( BMI ) and BMD were calculated using age and gender matched reference data. Results Mean lumbar spine BMD Z‐scores and T‐scores were −1.81 SD in boys and −0.80 SD in girls. BMD Z‐scores were below ‐2 SD in 33.3% of girls and in 46.7% of boys. Low BMD (<−2 SD ) occurred significantly more in patients with low height‐for‐age ( P = 0.02), low weight‐for‐age ( P = 0.001) and low BMI ‐for‐age ( P = 0.006). No significant relationships were found between BMD and other clinical and laboratory parameters. Radiography had a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 36% to detect low BMD , and was considered not useful in this context. Conclusions Patients with low height and/or low weight‐for‐age seem to be at high risk for developing low BMD .