title: Outcomes of bone density measurements in coeliac disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some guidelines recommend that patients with newly diagnosed coeliac disease undergo bone density scanning. We assessed the bone density results in a cohort of patients with coeliac disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched bone density reports over two 5-year periods in all patients from Auckland District Health Board (2008-12) and in patients under 65 years from Counties Manukau District Health Board (2009-13) for the term 'coeliac.'
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reports for 137 adults listed coeliac disease as an indication for bone densitometry. The average age was 47 years, body mass index (BMI) 25 kg/m(2), and 77% were female. The median time between coeliac disease diagnosis and bone densitometry was 261 days. The average bone density Z-score was slightly lower than expected (Z-score -0.3 to 0.4) at the lumbar spine, total hip and femoral neck, but 88-93% of Z-scores at each site lay within the normal range. Low bone density was strongly related to BMI: the proportions with Z-score <-2 for BMI <20, 20-25, 25-30, and >30 kg/m(2) were 28%, 15%, 6% and 0% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Average bone density was normal, suggesting that bone density measurement is not indicated routinely in coeliac disease, but could be considered on a case-by-case basis for individuals with strong risk factors for fracture.
authors.affiliation: Bone and Joint Research Group, Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. m.bolland@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bolland
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grey
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Rowbotham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003720:Densitometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors