Femoral bone mineral density reflects histologically determined cortical bone volume in hemodialysis patients.
We evaluated the associations between dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and histologically determined cancellous and cortical bone volume by controlling for vascular calcifications and demographic variables in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Femoral bone mineral density (f-BMD) was associated with cortical porosity.


BACKGROUND
Assessment of bone mass in chronic kidney disease patients is of clinical importance because of the association between low bone volume, fractures, and vascular calcifications. DXA is used for noninvasive assessment of bone mass whereby vertebral results reflect mainly cancellous bone and femoral results reflect mainly cortical bone. Bone histology allows direct measurements of cancellous and cortical bone volume. The present study evaluates the association between DXA and histologically determined cancellous and cortical bone volumes in HD patients.


METHODS
In 38 HD patients, DXA was performed for assessment of bone mass, anterior iliac crest bone biopsies for bone volume, and multislice computed tomography for vascular calcifications.


RESULTS
While lumbar bone mineral density (l-BMD) by DXA was not associated with histologically measured cancellous bone volume, coronary Agatson score showed a borderline statistically significant association (P = 0.055). When controlled for age and dialysis duration, f-BMD by DXA was associated with cortical porosity determined by histology (P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
The usefulness of l-BMD for predicting bone volume is limited most probably because of interference by soft tissue calcifications. In contrast, f-BMD shows significant association with cortical porosity.
Adragao
T
T
Nephrology Department, Santa Cruz Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal.
Herberth
J
J
Monier-Faugere
M-C
MC
Branscum
A J
AJ
Ferreira
A
A
Frazao
J M
JM
Malluche
H H
HH
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000473:pathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016062:Porosity; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult