title: High prevalence of vertebral fractures in women with breast cancer starting aromatase inhibitor therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to describe bone status in a large cohort of postmenopausal women with nonmetastatic breast cancer, at the initiation of aromatase inhibitor therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, transversal and clinical study was conducted. Each woman had an extensive medical history, a biological evaluation, a bone mineral density (BMD) measurement and spinal X-rays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred and ninety-seven women aged 63.8 ± 9.6 years were included in this study. Eighty-five percent of these women had a 25-OH vitamin D concentration <75 nmol/l. One hundred and fifty-six women (31.4%) had a T-score < -2 at one of the three site measurements. Ninety-five women (19.1%) had a history of nonvertebral fracture with a total of 120 fractures. Spine X-rays evaluation revealed that 20% of the women had at least one vertebral fracture. The presence of vertebral fracture was associated with nonvertebral fracture history [odds ratio (OR) 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-2.4] and with spine BMD (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.7). The prevalence of vertebral fracture reached 62.9% in women with age above 70 years and femoral T-score < -2.5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Before starting aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer, a large proportion of women had a vitamin D insufficiency and vertebral fractures.
authors: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Angers, Angers; INSERM, U922, University Hospital of Angers, Angers. Electronic address: bebouvard@chu-angers.fr.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Bouvard
authors: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Angers, Angers; INSERM, U922, University Hospital of Angers, Angers.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Hoppé
authors: Paul Papin Cancer Institute, ICO, Angers, France.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Soulié
authors: Paul Papin Cancer Institute, ICO, Angers, France.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Georgin-Mege
authors: Paul Papin Cancer Institute, ICO, Angers, France.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Jadaud
authors: Paul Papin Cancer Institute, ICO, Angers, France.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Abadie-Lacourtoisie
authors: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Angers, Angers.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Petit Le Manac'h
authors: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Angers, Angers.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Laffitte
authors: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Angers, Angers; INSERM, U922, University Hospital of Angers, Angers.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Levasseur
authors: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Angers, Angers; INSERM, U922, University Hospital of Angers, Angers.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Audran
authors: INSERM, U922, University Hospital of Angers, Angers.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Chappard
authors: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Angers, Angers; INSERM, U922, University Hospital of Angers, Angers.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Legrand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013131:Spine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors