title: Ultrasound velocity measured at the proximal phalanges: precision and age-related changes in normal females.
abstract: To determine the precision of a new ultrasound device and to establish a reference curve for normal French females, amplitude-dependent speed of sound (AD-SoS, m/sec) was measured using a DBM Sonic 1200 device (IGEA, Carpi) at four proximal phalanges of the nondominant hand in healthy women. In vitro precision from 21 measurements of a plexiglass phantom was 0.3%. In vivo short-term precision was 0.84% +/- 0.48% in 15 younger adults (age 31 +/- 10 years) and 0.81% +/- 0.038% in 15 older adults (age 62 +/- 16 years). Interobserver coefficient of variation was 0.77%. One hundred twenty-eight healthy female hospital staff members or friends of hospital staff members were studied (age 51.2 +/- 17.4 years). AD-SoS decreased by 9.6% between 30 and 80 years of age. Separate analyses of pre and postmenopausal women and of ten-year age groups demonstrated that AD-SoS remained unchanged before menopause but decreased by 7.6% after menopause (age 64.14 +/- 7.5 years; range 41-80). These data from normal females were compared with those reported by others in females and males. Age at menarche apparently influenced AD-SoS in later life. Reproducibility of the device used for this study was acceptable. Our cross-sectional data suggest that AD-SoS measurement is effective for detecting postmenopausal bone loss. Further investigations in osteoporosis are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Edouard Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duboeuf
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hans
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schott
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giraud
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Delmas
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Meunier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D017698:Postmenopause; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography