Bone mineral density in primary and secondary amenorrhea.
Amenorrhea in young women is one of the best clinical indicators for estrogen deficiency, except in the presence of gynecological structural pathology. This study aimed at investigating bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with primary and secondary amenorrhea. Thirty-six patients were enrolled in the study, seven with primary amenorrhea (mean age 24.3 +/- 4.5 yrs.) and twenty-nine with secondary amenorrhea (mean age 31.1 +/- 6.9 yrs.). Eighteen regularly menstruating women (mean age 31.8 +/- 3.7 yrs.) served as controls. BMD was measured at lumbar spine, femoral neck, Ward's triangle and trochanter.


RESULTS
BMD was significantly decreased in both primary and secondary hypoestrogen amenorrheic patients. Primary amenorrheic patients were more severely affected with a BMD mean Z score below 80 per cent (osteopenia) at all sites measured. The age of primary amenorrheic women also strongly correlated with degree of demineralization. This should emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of young amenorrheic patients.
Choktanasiri
W
W
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Rojanasakul
A
A
Rajatanavin
R
R
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015519:Bone Density; D004967:Estrogens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D004967:Estrogens