title: Longitudinal study of bone loss in chronic spinal cord injury patients.
abstract: [Purpose] This prospective longitudinal study evaluated the changes in bone metabolism markers and bone mineral density of spinal cord injury patients over 3 years. We also assessed the relationships among the bone mineral density, bone metabolism, and clinical data of spinal cord injury patients. [Subjects and Methods] We assessed the clinical data (i.e., immobilization due to surgery, neurological status, neurological level, and extent of lesion) in 20 spinal cord injury patients. Bone mineral density, and hormonal and biochemical markers of the patients were measured at 0, 6, 12, and 36 months. [Results] Femoral neck T score decreased significantly at 36 months (p < 0.05). Among the hormonal markers, parathyroid hormone and vitamin D were significantly elevated, while bone turnover markers (i.e., deoxypyridinoline and osteocalcin) were significantly decreased at 12 and 36 months (p < 0.05). [Conclusion] Bone mineral density of the femoral neck decreases significantly during the long-term follow-up of patients with spinal cord injury due to osteoporosis. This could be due to changes in hormonal and bone turnover markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty, Sifa University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Inanc
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karapolat
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty, Ege University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hale Uzumcugil
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Karapolat
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty, Ege University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kirazli
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty, Ege University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kazim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Capaci
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty, Ege University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akkoc
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty, Ege University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumanlioglu
keywords: Bone loss; Bone mineral density; Spinal cord injury