Influence of the climacteric on the bone mass of the spine and femur.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the correlation between the bone mass of the lumbar spine and the neck of the femur in Spanish climacteric women.


METHODS
Bone mass was measured using quantitative digital radiology in 200 climacteric women who had no record of receiving hormone replacement therapy.


RESULTS
A statistically significant correlation (P < 0.05) is observed between the bone mineral density and content of the lumbar spine and the femur in all the groups of climacteric women, although only in the postmenopausal women does it approach 70%. A direct relationship is observed between the loss of bone mass and the onset of the menopause, as well as with the patients' body mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
When the different parameters are analyzed, the results show that measurement of the lumbar spine is essential, and measurement of the femur should not be used as a substitute, but rather in addition to it.
Dueñas
J L
JL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, University of Seville, Spain.
Marin
J M
JM
Gomez de Tejada
J
J
Navarro
J
J
Perez-Cano
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography