Distal metacarpal bone mineral density by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. Methodological investigation and application in rheumatoid arthritis.
Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning was performed along the axis of the third metacarpal bone of the non-dominant hand and including metacarpal bones 2, 3, 4 and 5. The Bone Mineral Density (BMD) was calculated for the distal 1/4 of each metacarpal bone. Ten patients with seropositive, erosive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 10 healthy, sex- and age-matched persons were investigated twice. The average BMD in RA patients was 73.6% of the value found in normals. The coefficient of variation on double determinations (in patients and controls) was 0.9-3.0%. We suggest that dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning with the scanning procedure proposed here may be an important instrument for the quantification of disease progression.
Florescu
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine TTA, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Pødenphant
J
J
Thamsborg
G
G
Hansen
M
M
Leffers
A M
AM
Andersen
V
V
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged