title: Bone mineral density in children with cirrhosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the clinical importance of osteoporosis in individuals with cirrhosis, little is known about it, especially in children. We evaluated the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of children with cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty children with cirrhosis (mean age, 10.4 +/- 3.9 years) were involved. BMD and BMC were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at lumbar vertebrae 1-4, and the results were compared with those of 62 healthy age- and sex-matched children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean lumbar spine BMD of patients with cirrhosis was 0.482 +/- 0.107 g/cm(2) and that of the controls was 0.687 +/- 0.172 g/cm(2) (P < 0.0001). The mean lumbar spine BMC of patients with cirrhosis was 20.008 +/- 8.409 g and that of controls was 32.859 +/- 14.665 g (P < 0.0001). After the confounding variables (weight, height, and pubertal stage) were controlled for, the difference in BMD and BMC values between patients with cirrhosis and healthy controls was significant (0.535 +/- 0.061 g/cm(2) vs 0.653 +/- 0.048 g/cm(2), and 24.515 +/- 5.052 g vs 29.952 +/- 3.971 g, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the significant difference in BMD and BMC values between our patients with cirrhosis and healthy controls, patients with cirrhosis should be evaluated for osteopenia.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Ankara 06100, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuray
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uslu
authors.forename: Inci Nur
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Saltik-Temizel
authors.forename: Hülya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Usta
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozen
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gürakan
authors.forename: Aysel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yüce
authors.forename: Nurten
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koçak
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index