Broadband ultrasound attenuation of the calcaneus. A tool for assessing bone status in patients with chronic renal failure.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) for the assessment of bone status and to correlate this to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in haemodialysis patients.


METHODS
In 60 patients, BUA (dB/MHz) was determined for the calcaneus. The results were expressed as Z-scores and T-scores, i.e. units of standard deviations respectively from age- and sex-matched normal values and from sex-matched normal mean values in healthy young adults. Ultrasound data were correlated to relevant clinical, biochemical and DXA data (g/cm2), which were examined at the femoral neck and at the lumbar spine in 50 patients.


RESULTS
The BUA Z-score was < -1 in 53% of the patients and < -2 in 22%. The BUA T-score was < -1 in 88% and < -2 in 62%. Moderate correlation was found for calcaneal BUA to DXA in men (r = 0.47-0.48, p < 0.01) and to DXA of the lumbar spine in women (r = 0.51, p < 0.05). The best correlation was observed for BUA to DXA of the femoral neck in women (r = 0.61, p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Calcaneal BUA is an additional tool for the surveillance of bone density in haemodialysed patients.
Tribl
B
B
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Vogelsang
H
H
Pohanka
E
E
Grampp
S
S
Gangl
A
A
Hörl
W H
WH
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase