title: Bone health assessment by quantitative ultrasound and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in postmenopausal women with breast cancer receiving aromatase inhibitors.
abstract: Phalangeal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements provide surrogate information on bone quality. The aim of the present study was to assess bone status by phalangeal QUS and by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and to evaluate bone turnover in breast cancer (BC) women receiving aromatase inhibitors (AIs).
  
  
  
  Sixty postmenopausal BC women and 42 matched controls were recruited (mean age 61.64 ± 8.33 y). Amplitude-dependent speed of sound (AD-SoS), bone transmission time (BTT), Ultrasound Bone Profile Index, as QUS parameters, L1-L4 and femoral neck BMD by DXA were assessed at baseline and after 18 months; serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) and C-telopeptide of type 1 collagen were measured at baseline, 9 and 18 months.
  
  
  
  FRAX (without BMD) derived 10-years probability of major fractures and hip fractures were significantly associated with AD-SoS (r = -0.381, P = < 0.001 and r = -0.370, P < 0.001, respectively), Ultrasound Bone Profile Index (r = -0.434, P ≤ 0.001 and r = -0.409, P = < 0.001, respectively), BTT (r = -0.309, P = 0.002 and r = -0.340, P = 0.001, respectively). The median percent changes of AD-SoS (-3.71 [-5.38 to 0.11] vs -0.7 [-4.15 to 0.83], P = 0.02 respectively), BTT (-8.4 [-14.91 to -3.53] vs -1 [-5.72 to 3.75], P < 0.001 respectively) were significantly different between AIs users and controls. The same trend was observed for DXA measurements. BSAP and C-telopeptide of type 1 collagen significantly changed in AIs users. AD-SoS was associated with change of BMD at lumbar spine (β, 0.16; SE, 0.08; P = 0.04) and change of BSAP (β, -0.04; SE, 0.02; P = 0.04).
  
  
  
  Phalangeal QUS appeared a useful tool to evaluate bone quality in BC women on AIs.
authors: 1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy 2Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy 3Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy 4Mineral Metabolism and Nephrology Clinic of Vibo Valentia Hospital, Vibo Valentia, Italy.
authors: Antonino
authors: A
authors: Catalano
authors: Nunziata
authors: N
authors: Morabito
authors: Rita Maria
authors: RM
authors: Agostino
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Basile
authors: Agostino
authors: A
authors: Gaudio
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Atteritano
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Natale
authors: Anastasia
authors: A
authors: Xourafa
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Morini
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Adamo
authors: Antonino
authors: A
authors: Lasco
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D050278:Finger Phalanges / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors