Bone Abstracts

Background: The significant increase in the life expectancy of the patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) came with some costs, as new complications have emerged. Among endocrine disorders, CF-related bone disease (CFBD) is a leading complications reported in the adult patients.

Objectives: Our study present the first results of the bone mass and body composition evaluation by DXA in a small group of Romanian children with CF treated in the author’s departments.

Results: Seventeen children aged between 8 and 18 years were diagnosed with CF were evaluated through a whole body DXA scan (Prodigy-Lunar GE). We performed routine biochemical tests, respiratory function and endocrine diseases (growth, development, thyroid function and serum vitamin D). Medical history data were collected from medical records. Mean age of the children was 12.1±2.5 years, with a BMI of 20.5±2.3 kg/m² and a height centile (WHO reference) of 28.6±23. Mean values of measured parameters were 77.9±19.8 for FEV% predicted, 81.4±23.6 for FEV1% predicted, 11.98±2.24 years for bone age, −0.93±1.01 S.D. for the total body less head bone mineral density (TBLH-BMD) Z score, 18.44±8.81% for total body fat, 12.51±1.09 g/m² for LMI (lean mass index). Two patients had short stature, one was overweight and one underweight. Vitamin D insufficiency was found in 14 patients, defficiency in 9 and only 3 out of 17 patients had normal serum 25HO vitamin D, in spite of vitamin D supplementation. TBLH BMD Z score below -2 SD was found in only two patients with more severe form of CF but seven patient had below -1 S.D. value. Two patients had prevalent fractures but with TBLH BMD above -2 S.D. Only three out of 17 patients had normal body fat percent, the other showing extremely low values. None of the patient had extreme values for LMI.

Conclusions: Specific treatment for CF and maintenance of a good lean mass seems to compensate overall the deleterious effects of the disease and corticotherapy on the bone; however, prevalent fractures seems not to be correlated only to BMD parameters, suggesting additional quality factors in the pathogeny of CFBD.

Acknowledgement: DXA evaluation cost was partially funded by Gabriela Medserv SRL.

Disclosure: The authors declared no competing interests.