Bone changes and carotid atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
Because of increased life expectancy, most postmenopausal women today suffer from osteoporosis and atherosclerotic diseases, which are currently considered unrelated diseases. Our study was aimed at analyzing relations between bone mineral density (BMD) and ultrasonographic assessment of carotid wall characteristics.


METHODS
The relation of carotid atherosclerosis to BMD was examined in 30 postmenopausal women aged 67 to 85 years. High-resolution B-mode ultrasonography was performed, and the severity of carotid atherosclerosis was determined by plaque score. BMD was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.


RESULTS
The correlation of plaque score with low total BMD was r = .549 (P < .002). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated significant correlation of plaque score with total cholesterol level and low total BMD.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest a relation between carotid atherosclerosis, one of the major causes of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, and osteoporosis.
Uyama
O
O
Division of Pathobiology, College of Nursing Art and Science, Akashi, Japan. uyama@kh.rim.or.jp
Yoshimoto
Y
Y
Yamamoto
Y
Y
Kawai
A
A
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014463:Ultrasonography
D002784:Cholesterol