Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: To learn characteristics of biochemical markers of bone metabolism, parameters of bone mineral density (BMD) and fat component of body composition for early diagnosis of bone disorders in children with primary nephrotic syndrome (NS).

Material and methods: We compared data of laboratory investigations (phosphorus (P), total calcium (Ca), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)), protocols of dual-energy X-ray absorbtiometry of the axial skeleton and total body of 27 children with NS (group 1 – G1, age 9.71±4.23 yrs) and 13 children of control group (G2, age 10.84±3.84 yrs, P=0.48). Group 1 was divided in subgroups G1a (relapse of NS, n=12) and G1b (remission of NS, n=15). Results were processed using SPSS17.

Results: G1 showed significantly lower age-matched z-score of BMD of lumbal spine (L1-4) (−0.71±0.96) compared with G2 (0.08±1.13, P=0.036). One child of G1 had low bone density of lumbal spine with z-score −2.9. Total BMD was similar in the groups (0.88+/−0.12 g/cm² in G1 vs 0.91+/−0.19 g/cm² in G2, P=0.39). Fat component of body composition was increased in G1 (38.33±11.30%) compared with G2 (27.52±6.59%, P=0.0001). Android/gynoid fat ratio was higher in G1 (0.90±0.18) than in G2 (0.70+/−0.20, P=0.013). Children of G1a showed lower level of Ca than control (2.24±0.18 mmol/l vs 2.37±0.07 mmol/l, P=0.009). Concentration of Ca in G1b was similar to G2 (2.37±0.07+/− 0.13 vs 2.44±0.15 mmol/l, P=0.71) We didn’t reveal significant difference in of PTH, P and ALP levels in the groups (P>0.05).

Conclusions: Most children with NS showed normal BMD of lumbal spine, though it was lower than in healthy controls. Patients with NS had higher fat component of body composition with increased android type of its distribution.