1. Sexual difference in bone geometry of adult patients with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia: data using peripheral quantitative computed tomography
- Author
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Robert Dalla Pozza, Susanne Bechtold, Stephanie Putzker, Hans Peter Schwarz, Heinrich Schmidt, Walter Bonfig, Andreas Beyerlein, and Ragna Otto
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Bone density ,Adolescent ,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism ,Osteoporosis ,Bone and Bones ,Cohort Studies ,Young Adult ,Endocrinology ,Bone Density ,medicine ,Humans ,Congenital adrenal hyperplasia ,Young adult ,Quantitative computed tomography ,Sex Characteristics ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ,Anthropometry ,business.industry ,Organ Size ,medicine.disease ,Hormones ,Peripheral ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,Female ,Steroid 21-Hydroxylase ,business ,Tomography, X-Ray Computed ,Glucocorticoid ,medicine.drug ,Sex characteristics - Abstract
Background/Aims: Glucocorticoid treatment may influence bone and muscle development in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). This study evaluated bone mineral density (BMD), bone geometry and muscle mass. Methods: 73 adult patients with classical CAH were followed. BMD, bone geometry and muscle mass were measured using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Glucocorticoid-equivalent doses throughout life were calculated and at the time pQCT androgen levels were measured. Results: In males the mean standard deviation (SD) score for trabecular BMD (-0.33 ± 0.71) was reduced, whereas mean cortical BMD (1.05 ± 1.11) was elevated. Mean total (0.86 ± 1.12) and medullary cross-sectional area (CSA; 1.12 ± 1.17) were significantly increased (p < 0.001). In all patients SD scores for cortical thickness (-0.65 ± 0.91) and muscle CSA (-0.83 ± 0.91) were reduced. Treatment duration was associated with lower trabecular BMD in males (r = -0.63, p < 0.001). Suppressed androgens and simple virilizing CAH had an adverse effect on the muscle CSA SD score (OR 0.58 and 0.46, respectively, p < 0.05). Conclusion: There was a sexual difference with enlarged total and medullary CSA in females, whereas in males trabecular BMD was reduced and cortical BMD elevated. Cortical thickness and muscle CSA were reduced in all CAH patients with a possible long-term impact on bone development and stability. Monitoring of bone and muscle development might be warranted.
- Published
- 2013