Analysis of Bone Impairment by 3D DXA Hip Measures in Patients With Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Pilot Study.

CONTEXT: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has been related to bone loss. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) cannot distinguish between trabecular and cortical bone compartments but the recently developed three-dimensional (3D)-DXA software might overcome this issue.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the differences in DXA-derived areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and 3D-DXA parameters at the hip site between patients with PHPT and a healthy control group.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional pilot study.
SETTING: Hospital. PATIENTS: 80 adults (59.5 ± 9.1 yrs), 40 with PHPT and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. MEASURES: aBMD (g/cm2) of the femoral neck, trochanter, shaft, and total hip was assessed using DXA. Cortical surface (sBMD, mg/cm2), cortical volumetric BMD (vBMD, mg/cm3), trabecular vBMD (mg/cm3), integral vBMD (mg/cm3) and cortical thickness (mm) was assessed using 3D-DXA software.
RESULTS: Mean-adjusted values showed lower aBMD (7.5%-12.2%, effect size: 0.51-1.01) in the PHPT group compared with the control group (all P < 0.05). 3D-DXA revealed bone impairment (3.7%-8.5%, effect size: 0.47-0.65) in patients with PHPT, mainly in cortical parameters (all P < 0.05). However, differences in trabecular vBMD were not statistically significant (P = 0.055). The 3D mapping showed lower cortical sBMD, cortical vBMD, and cortical thickness at the trochanter and diaphysis in the PHPT group (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. In both groups, the presence of osteopenia or osteoporosis is related to lower cortical bone.
CONCLUSIONS: aBMD and cortical 3D parameters are impaired in patients with PHPT versus healthy controls. The vBMD of the trabecular compartment seems to be affected, although to a lesser extent. © Endocrine Society 2019. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.