Osteoporosis: still a typical complication of primary biliary cirrhosis?
BACKGROUND
Osteoporosis is a recognized complication of primary biliary cirrhosis but it has been suggested that its prevalence may overlap that observed among postmenopausal women.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis in primary biliary cirrhosis.


METHODS
A total of 133 female patients (age 53+/-10 years, menopausal status 70%, histological stage I-II 61%, portal hypertension 28%, Mayo Risk Score 4.11+/-0.59) were enrolled.


METHODS
Dual X-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar spine.


RESULTS
Mean bone mineral density, T and Z score were 0.861+/-0.160 g/cm2, -1.87+/-1.45 and -0.78+/-2.63, respectively. At multivariate analysis, bone mineral density was inversely correlated with age (p<0.05). Osteoporosis was present in 39/92 (41%) postmenopausal and 8/41 (20%) premenopausal patients. In the premenopausal group, osteoporosis was significantly correlated with serum albumin (p<0.05) and Mayo Risk score (p<0.005). No significant correlation was present in the postmenopausal group.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the accepted wisdom that osteoporosis is a common complication of primary biliary cirrhosis, its frequency in post-menopausal patients overlaps that observed in the general population, but is much more frequent in premenopausal patients, where it appears to be related to severity of liver disease and cholestasis.
Solerio
E
E
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gradenigo Hospital, C.so Regina Margherita 10, 10153 Turin, Italy.
Isaia
G
G
Innarella
R
R
Di Stefano
M
M
Farina
M
M
Borghesio
E
E
Framarin
L
L
Rizzetto
M
M
Rosina
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000453:epidemiology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000453:epidemiology; D011859:Radiography