Endocrine Abstracts

Osteoporosis is a chronic noninfectious disease, which changes the structure and mineral density of bones, causing fractures after small trauma, deformities and disability. Every minute two breakages happen, due to osteoporosis. Thyroid gland disfunction could disturb the bone remodelling process.

The aim of this study is to check the bone quality in females suffering from thyroid diseases. This prospective study included 164 women of the average age of 74±0.48 (range: 60–90). None of them have taken hormon replacement therapy during the menopause.

The bone mineral density has been defined by the method of denzitometry, with double absorptiometry of X ray (DXA) using Hollogic Expolorer instrument (S/N 91038) on lumbal spine (L1–L4), hip and thigh bone neck.

We investigated thyroid hypophyseal hormonal axis, and parameters indicating the quality of calcium metabolism (parathormone (PTH), ionized calcium (Ca⁺⁺), 25OHD₃.

In 43/164 (26%) patients, thyroid gland disfunction was proved. In this group of patients 21/164 (13%) have been diagnosed as hyperthyroid, but 22/164 (13%) of them suffered from hypothyroidism.

Denzitometry (DXA) has showed spine osteoporosis but worse finding has been confirmed in hip trabecular bone (T score L1–L4: −3.03 S.D. ±0.07 and −3.39 S.D. ±0.14 respectively).

In 22/164 elderly women hypothyreoidism has been proved. Their trabecular bone is osteoporotic both of spine and hip (−2.87 S.D. ±0.02, and −2.99 S.D. ±0.24 respectively), while in those suffering from hyperthyroidism deterioration of trabecular bone is higher (−3.2 S.D. ±0.04, and −3.40 S.D. ±0.24 respectively).

Deficiency of 25OHD₃ has been confirmed both in hyper and hypothyroidism.

We have to recommend all aspects of any bone changes prevention, i.e. osteopenia and osteoporosis.