Osteopenia in systemic sclerosis. Evidence of a participating role of earlier menopause.

Ninety systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, all females, none of them suffering from either renal failure or intestinal malabsorption, and 90 sex and age matched controls were investigated for bone mineral content (BMC) by dual photon-absorptiometry (Am 241, I 125) (Osteoden P, NIM) evaluated at two sites of the nondominant radius. BMC as well as bone density (BD) were found to be significantly lower in the patients than in the controls. No alteration of calcium metabolism was detected in the patients, neither were we able to find any relationship between osteopenia and the extent of the involvement of the skin or of any internal organ. We observed, however, that the percentage of the patients in menopause was significantly greater than that of the controls (p less than .001). Furthermore, menopause had occurred in the patients significantly earlier than in the controls (p less than .001). Therefore, earlier menopause can play a role in the induction of osteopenia in systemic sclerosis. Further prospective studies are needed to check the hormonal status of SSc patients.