BONE-DENSITY AND BIOLOGICAL MARKERS IN A POPULATION OF 330 WOMEN

A population of 330 non-selected women underwent determination of bone density by means of Bi X absorptiometry of the lumbar spine and femur. The findings showed a negative correlation with the time since the menopause and a positive correlation with the duration of genitally active life and with substitutive hormonal treatment. The determination of the L1 density can replace that of the entire lumbar spine in cases in which osteoarthritis, atheroma or crushing make this determination unreliable. Conclusions cannot yet be based on measurements of the neck of femur. Changes in the biological markers in function of bone density values are difficult to interpret. The measurement of bone density and the assay of biological markers reflect two distinct phenomena, both of which must be taken into consideration in assessing osteoporotic risk.