MANDIBULAR CORTICAL INDEX ASSESSMENT IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS: AN OBSERVATIONAL, RETROSPECTIVE CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: To assess the mandibular cortical index (MCI) in patients with cirrhosis and liver disease (PC) patients without cirrhosis in the control group (CG) awaiting transplantation and identify morphologic patterns suggestive of low bone mineral density (BMD) alterations, compared with patients without cirrhosisin the control group (CG) using panoramic radiographs. Study Design: Eighty-eight patients with liver disease and 88 patients without liver disease were evaluated. Nonparametric correlations between MCI and dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for the CG results were carried out with Spearman test, at a level of significance of 5%, as well as correlations between MCI and other variables from the PC group (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD] and time of duration of liver disease). Logistic regression was used to determinate whether the PC group has a higher risk of low BMD in the mandible. Results: For the PC group, MCI and T-scores showed a moderate to strong inverse correlation (r = –0.71; P = .000). For the PC group, MCI showed no significant correlation between MELD (P = .402) nor with the time of liver disease (P = .736). Odds ratio (OR) analysis showed that the presence of liver disease (OR = 6.61; 95% CI, 3.10-18.08) was significantly associated with low BMD of the mandible. Conclusion: Patients awaiting liver transplantation have a higher risk of low BMD compared with patients without liver disease. Objective: To assess the mandibular cortical index (MCI) in patients with cirrhosis and liver disease (PC) patients without cirrhosis in the control group (CG) awaiting transplantation and identify morphologic patterns suggestive of low bone mineral density (BMD) alterations, compared with patients without cirrhosisin the control group (CG) using panoramic radiographs. Study Design: Eighty-eight patients with liver disease and 88 patients without liver disease were evaluated. Nonparametric correlations between MCI and dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for the CG results were carried out with Spearman test, at a level of significance of 5%, as well as correlations between MCI and other variables from the PC group (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD] and time of duration of liver disease). Logistic regression was used to determinate whether the PC group has a higher risk of low BMD in the mandible. Results: For the PC group, MCI and T-scores showed a moderate to strong inverse correlation (r = –0.71; P = .000). For the PC group, MCI showed no significant correlation between MELD (P = .402) nor with the time of liver disease (P = .736). Odds ratio (OR) analysis showed that the presence of liver disease (OR = 6.61; 95% CI, 3.10-18.08) was significantly associated with low BMD of the mandible. Conclusion: Patients awaiting liver transplantation have a higher risk of low BMD compared with patients without liver disease.