title: Prevalence of silent vertebral fractures detected by vertebral fracture assessment in young Portuguese men with hyperthyroidism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperthyroidism is a risk factor for reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporotic fractures. Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a radiological method of visualization of the spine, which enables patient comfort and reduced radiation exposure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to evaluate BMD and the prevalence of silent vertebral fractures in young men with hyperthyroidism.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study in a group of Portuguese men aged up to 50 years and matched in hyperthyroidism (n=24) and control (n=24) groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 48 Portuguese men aged up to 50 years was divided and matched in hyperthyroidism (n=24) and control (n=24) groups. BMD (g/cm(2)) at L1-L4, hip, radius 33%, and whole body as well as the total body masses (kg) were studied by DXA. VFA was used to detect fractures and those were classified by Genant's semiquantitative method. No patient had previously been treated for hyperthyroidism, osteoporosis, or low bone mass. Adequate statistical tests were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age, height, and total fat mass were similar in both groups (P≥0.05). The total lean body mass and the mean BMD at lumbar spine, hip, and whole body were significantly decreased in the hyperthyroidism group. In this group, there was also a trend for an increased prevalence of reduced BMD/osteoporosis and osteoporotic vertebral fractures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained using VFA technology (confirmed by X-ray) suggest that the BMD changes in young men with nontreated hyperthyroidism may lead to the development of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures. This supports the pertinence of using VFA in the routine of osteoporosis assessment to detect silent fractures precociously and consider early treatment.
authors.affiliation: Santa Maria University HospitalAvenida Professor Egas Moniz. 1649-028 Lisbon, PortugalImaging DepartmentSanta Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalGenetics LaboratoryLisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Lisbon, PortugalEndocrinologyDiabetes and Metabolism Department, Lisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Santa Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalPharmacy DepartmentHealth Sciencies Center, Federal University Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil ana_pbarbosa@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Santa Maria University HospitalAvenida Professor Egas Moniz. 1649-028 Lisbon, PortugalImaging DepartmentSanta Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalGenetics LaboratoryLisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Lisbon, PortugalEndocrinologyDiabetes and Metabolism Department, Lisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Santa Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalPharmacy DepartmentHealth Sciencies Center, Federal University Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rui Mascarenhas
authors.affiliation: Santa Maria University HospitalAvenida Professor Egas Moniz. 1649-028 Lisbon, PortugalImaging DepartmentSanta Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalGenetics LaboratoryLisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Lisbon, PortugalEndocrinologyDiabetes and Metabolism Department, Lisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Santa Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalPharmacy DepartmentHealth Sciencies Center, Federal University Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Francisco
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Santa Maria University HospitalAvenida Professor Egas Moniz. 1649-028 Lisbon, PortugalImaging DepartmentSanta Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalGenetics LaboratoryLisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Lisbon, PortugalEndocrinologyDiabetes and Metabolism Department, Lisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Santa Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalPharmacy DepartmentHealth Sciencies Center, Federal University Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Távora
authors.affiliation: Santa Maria University HospitalAvenida Professor Egas Moniz. 1649-028 Lisbon, PortugalImaging DepartmentSanta Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalGenetics LaboratoryLisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Lisbon, PortugalEndocrinologyDiabetes and Metabolism Department, Lisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Santa Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalPharmacy DepartmentHealth Sciencies Center, Federal University Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bicho
authors.affiliation: Santa Maria University HospitalAvenida Professor Egas Moniz. 1649-028 Lisbon, PortugalImaging DepartmentSanta Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalGenetics LaboratoryLisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Lisbon, PortugalEndocrinologyDiabetes and Metabolism Department, Lisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Santa Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalPharmacy DepartmentHealth Sciencies Center, Federal University Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: do Carmo
authors.affiliation: Santa Maria University HospitalAvenida Professor Egas Moniz. 1649-028 Lisbon, PortugalImaging DepartmentSanta Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalGenetics LaboratoryLisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Lisbon, PortugalEndocrinologyDiabetes and Metabolism Department, Lisbon University Medical School, Environmental Health Institute, Santa Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, PortugalPharmacy DepartmentHealth Sciencies Center, Federal University Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: António Gouveia
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism