Longitudinal changes with age in bone mineral density of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Bone disorders are associated with primary biliary cirrhosis and cirrhosis of the liver. We used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to study bone involvement in primary biliary cirrhosis and in cirrhosis of the liver by measurement of the bone mineral density of lumbar vertebrae in Japanese patients. Some patients were monitored to identify how bone mineral density changed with age, as a first step in the establishment of suitable treatment. The mean bone mineral density of lumbar vertebrae L-2-L-4 in 150 women (64 with primary biliary cirrhosis and 86 with cirrhosis) was calculated. The bone mineral density of these vertebrae of 61 patients (31 with primary biliary cirrhosis and 30 with cirrhosis) was measured more than once during a period of 8-72 months. In women with primary biliary cirrhosis or cirrhosis of the liver, the bone mineral density tended to decrease with age faster than the reference values published elsewhere, At 50 years or more, the patients with primary biliary cirrhosis had a mean significantly lower than the reference values. At 60 years or more, the cirrhotic patients had a mean significantly lower than the reference value. The mean annual change in the mean bone mineral density was -3.5% in women with primary biliary cirrhosis and -2.4% in women with cirrhosis, significantly different from the reference value (-1.1%). This finding suggests that treatment for prevention of bone loss is needed for older women with primary biliary cirrhosis or cirrhosis of the liver. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.