Bone Abstracts

Subject: To examine the relationship between calcification of the coronary arteries, coronary atherosclerosis and indicators of bone mineral density (BMD) among males with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Materials and methods: Seventy-four males with documented CHD were examined. BMD was assessed by dual energy absorptiometry with T-criterion definition of the proximal femur and lumbar spine, coronarography, multispiral computed tomography with quantification of coronary artery calcification. Calcium index of vessels was evaluated by the Agatston method. Depending on the values of the T-criterion, patients were divided into three groups: I – with osteoporosis (23 patients), aged 60 (57, 64); II – with osteopenia (30 patients), aged 58 (52, 65); III – with normal BMD (21 patients), aged 58 (54.5, 65.5).

Results: Three-vessel lesion was detected in 43.5% in the group I, 46.7% in the group II, and 19.1% of patients in the group III. Single-vessel lesion was detected significantly less frequently among the patients with osteoporosis compared with normal BMD. Stenosis of three coronary arteries, including the defeat of the left main coronary artery were detected in the group I – 73.9% of patients, whereas in the group III – 35% of patients, P=0.029. The total value of the calcium index was 419.7 (25;1106), 525 (185;827) and 152.8 (0;490), respectively, in I, II, and III groups, P_II–III =0.012. The indicators of calcium index correlated significantly with the number of diseased vessels (r=0.31; P=0.009). There was a negative weak force correlation between the indicator of the T – criterion of the femoral neck and the number of affected arteries (r=−0.29; P=0.014).

Conclusions: Severe coronary lesion among males is correlated with coronary calcinosis and is associated with decreased bone mineral density, which indicates the total units in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis.