Summary
The relationship between spinal trabecular bone mineral density and iliac crest trabecular bone volume has been studied in 84 patients, 23 with primary osteoporosis, 19 with osteoporosis secondary to inflammatory bowel disease, and 42 with nonsteroid-treated rheumatoid arthritis. Spinal trabecular bone mineral density was measured in the first three lumbar vertebrae by quantitative computed tomography, and iliac crest trabecular bone volume was assessed histomorphometrically in sections from trans-iliac biopsies using computerized techniques. In all 84 patients, there was a significant positive correlation between the two measurements (r=0.60,P<0.001). However, when the three patient groups were analyzed separately, a significant correlation was found in the group with secondary osteoporosis (r=0.65,P<0.01) but not in the patients with primary osteoporosis (r=0.07) or rheumatoid arthritis (r=0.19). These results indicate that the relationship between spinal trabecular bone mineral density and iliac crest trabecular bone volume differs according to the underlying disease process, these differences possibly reflecting variations in skeletal patterns of bone loss in different types of osteoporosis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bikle DD, Genant HK, Cann C, Recker RR, Halloran BP, Strewler GJ (1985) Bone disease in alcohol abuse. Ann Intern Med 103:42–48
Torres A, Lorenzo V, Gonzalez-Posada JM (1986) Comparison of histomorphometry and computerised tomography of the spine in quantitating trabecular bone in renal osteodystrophy. Nephron 44:282–287
Delmas PD, Fontanges E, Duboeuf F, Boivin G, Chavassieux P, Meunier PJ (1986) Comparison of bone mass measured by histomorphometry on iliac biopsy and by dual photon absorptiometry of the lumbar spine. Bone 9:209–213
Ott SM, Kilcoyne RF, Chesnut CC III (1988) Comparisons among methods of measuring bone mass and relationship to severity of vertebral fractures in osteoporosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 66(3):501–507
Compston JE, Crawley EO, Evans C, O'Sullivan MM (1988) Spinal trabecular bone mineral content in patients with non-steroid-treated rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 47:660–664
Cann CE, Genant HK (1980) Precise measurement of vertebral mineral content using computed tomography. J Comput Assist Tomogr 4:493–500
Crawley EO, Evans WD, Owen GM (1988) A theoretical analysis of the accuracy of single energy CT bone mineral measurements. Phys Med Biol 33(10):1113–1127
Chavassieux PC, Arlot ME, Meunier PJ (1985) Intersample variation in bone histomorphometry: comparison between parameter values measured on two contiguous transiliac bone biopsies. Calcif Tissue Int 37:345–350
de Vernejoul MC, Kuntz D, Miravet L, Goutallier D, Ryckewaert A (1981) Bone histomorphometric reproducibility in normal patients. Calcif Tissue Int 33:369–374
Compston JE, Vedi S, Stellon AJ (1986) Inter-observer and intra-observer variation in bone histomorphometry. Calcif Tissue Int 38:67–70
Podenphant J, Riis BJ, Johansen JS, Leths A, Christiansen C (1988) Iliac crest biopsy in longitudinal therapeutic trials of osteoporosis. Bone and Mineral 5:77–87
Reinbold WD, Genant HK, Reiser UJ, Harris ST, Ettinger B (1986) Bone mineral content in early postmenopausal and postmenopausal osteoporotic women: comparison of measurement methods. Radiology 160:469–478
Riggs BL, Wahner HW, Dunn WL, Mazess RB, Offord KP, Melton LJ (1981) Differential changes in bone mineral density of the appendicular and axial skeleton with aging. J Clin Invest 67:328–335
Hahn TJ (1978) Corticosteroid-induced osteopenia. Arch Intern Med 138:882–885
Riggs BL, Melton LJ (1983) Evidence for two distinct syndromes of involutional osteoporosis. Am J Med 75:899–901
Corghi E, Duriez J, Ortolani S, Bianchi ML, Ulivieri FM, Polli E (1984) Comparison of single photon absorptiometry in the forearm and iliac bone histomorphometry as methods to evaluate bone mass in metabolic bone diseases. In: Christiansen C, Arnaud CD, Nordin BEC, Parfitt AM, Peck NA, Riggs BL (eds) Proceedings of the Copenhagen International Symposium on Osteoporosis 1:65–71 Aalborg Stiftsbogtrykkeri, Denmark
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wright, C.D.P., Crawley, E.O., Evans, W.D. et al. The relationship between spinal trabecular bone mineral content and iliac crest trabecular bone volume. Calcif Tissue Int 46, 162–165 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02555037
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02555037