OBJECTIVE: Osteoporosis is a common complication of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of the present study was to assess the association of sex hormone levels with bone loss in males with AS. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. Patients The study group consisted of 58 male patients with primary AS. The mean age was 38.2 years (range 18-59 years). MEASUREMENTS: Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in the left proximal femur. Serum FSH, LH, total testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), oestradiol (E2) and progesterone levels were measured. RESULTS: Bone loss was observed in 54.5% of cases at the femoral neck and in 52.3% of cases at the trochanter and total hip. Bone loss was found in 40 (69%) cases in at least one of these three regions. Serum DHEAS was low in 12 (30.8%) of the cases with bone loss, and one (5.9%) of those without (P = 0.043). The ratio of serum T/DHEAS was higher in those with bone loss (5.24 +/- 3.70) than in those without (3.58 +/- 3.16) (P = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that bone loss might be related to low serum DHEAS levels in males with AS.
OBJECTIVE:Osteoporosis is a common complication of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of the present study was to assess the association of sex hormone levels with bone loss in males with AS. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. Patients The study group consisted of 58 male patients with primary AS. The mean age was 38.2 years (range 18-59 years). MEASUREMENTS: Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in the left proximal femur. Serum FSH, LH, total testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), oestradiol (E2) and progesterone levels were measured. RESULTS:Bone loss was observed in 54.5% of cases at the femoral neck and in 52.3% of cases at the trochanter and total hip. Bone loss was found in 40 (69%) cases in at least one of these three regions. Serum DHEAS was low in 12 (30.8%) of the cases with bone loss, and one (5.9%) of those without (P = 0.043). The ratio of serum T/DHEAS was higher in those with bone loss (5.24 +/- 3.70) than in those without (3.58 +/- 3.16) (P = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that bone loss might be related to low serum DHEAS levels in males with AS.
Authors: M A C van der Weijden; T A M Claushuis; T Nazari; W F Lems; B A C Dijkmans; I E van der Horst-Bruinsma Journal: Clin Rheumatol Date: 2012-06-16 Impact factor: 2.980