Ultrasound bone mass in schizophrenic patients on antipsychotic therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine bone mass using quantitative phalangeal bone ultrasound in institutionalized schizophrenic patients under chronic treatment with antipsychotic drugs.


METHODS
A total of 73 patients with schizophrenia (25 women, mean age 59.84 +/- 17.01 years; 48 men, mean age 61.89 +/- 12.95 years) and 73 healthy subjects (25 women, mean age 60.37 +/- 17.16 years; 48 men, mean age 61.24 +/- 13.09 years) participated in the study. Bone status was assessed using an ultrasound device that measures the amplitude-dependent speed of sound (Ad-SoS) in metres per second. Measurements were made on the phalanges (II-V) of the non-dominant hand, and the mean value was computed.


RESULTS
The schizophrenic women had higher levels of prolactin (PRL), parathyroid hormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase (AlPh), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) (all p < 0.0001), and lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D(25(OH)D3) levels (p < 0.0001) and Ad-SoS values (p < 0.05) than controls. Ad-SoS was higher in schizophrenic men (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Schizophrenic women in treatment with antipsychotic drugs had a loss of phalangeal bone mass that was associated with the levels of vitamin D or PTH, and increased bone turnover.
Rey-Sánchez
Purificación
P
Department of Nursing, University of Extremadura, Spain.
Lavado-García
Jesús M
JM
Canal-Macías
María L
ML
Gómez-Zubeldia
María A
MA
Roncero-Martín
Raúl
R
Pedrera-Zamorano
Juan D
JD
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D050278:Finger Phalanges / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012737:Sex Factors; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D007527:Isoenzymes; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; D011388:Prolactin; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase