Decreased trabecular bone mineral density in ulcerative colitis as well as Crohn's disease in newly diagnosed Korean patients

Abstract

Decreased bone mineral density(BMD) may be already present at the time of diagnosis in patients with inflammatory bowe ! disease(IBD), at least in those with Crohn's disease(CD). However, the pathogenesis of the osteopenia is still unclear and bone histology of newly diagnosed patients with IBD has never been reported. Our aim was to study BMD and biochemical parameters in newly diagnosed patients in Korea, where the incidence of IBD is persistently increasing with westernization. We also obtained a specimen of bone biopsy to assess hist0morphometry. Methods: We studied 5 patients with CD(3 M, 2 F, mean age 26, range 21-32 years) and 7 patients with ulcerative colitis(UC, 4 M, 3 F, mean age 34, range 22-44 years), all of whom were newly diagnosed and had not received corticosteroids. BMD was measured in lumbar spine and femoral neck by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Biochemical parameters including plasma osteocalcin, PTH, inactive and active vitamin D and urinary deoxypyridinoline were measured. Bone biopsy was obtained from a 32-yearold man with CD by transilial approach after administration of pulsed doses of tetracycline. Results: 6 cases(50%) of the patients had a reduced BMD at lumbar spine(Z score<1).