Osteoporosis in male and female leprosy patients.

We measured the bone mineral density (BMD) of 353 leprosy patients (197 males 50-89 years old, average age 70.2; and 156 females 53-90 years old, average age 72.9) and serum levels of free testosterone (FT) in 81 males. The BMD of the lumbar vertebrae (L2-L4), diaphysis of the radius (1/3 radius), and the neck of the femur (neck) was measured using DXA (QDR 4500). The BMD of -2.5 SD YAM (young adult mean) in Japanese men and women was used as the cutoff value for osteoporosis in the respective genders: BMD of L2-L4, 0.751 g/cm2 (male), 0.747 g/cm2 (female); 1/3 radius, 0.655 g/cm2 (male), 0.550 g/cm2 (female); neck, 0.581 g/cm2 (female). The percentages of males with osteoporosis were 31.3% in the 50th, 32.9% in the 60th, 44.9% in the 70th, and 40.7% in the 80th decade at L2-L4. Similarly, the percentages were 33.3%, 58.3%, 74.3%, and 75.0%, respectively, at 1/3 radius. Among females, the percentages were 22.2%, 41.3%, 44.9%, and 68.8%, respectively, at L2-L4; 0%, 42.9%, 89.5%, and 78.6%, respectively, at 1/3 radius; and 11.1%, 38.6%, 67.7%, and 84.6% respectively, at neck. FT in men ranged from almost 0 to normal at each decade and BMD levels were significantly correlated with FT in all three regions of the skeleton (P < 0.0001). More than 30% of osteoporosis was found at each decade and FT may be one of the main factors affecting BMD in male leprosy patients.