02468nas a2200397   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653002700055653001000082653001600092653001700108653002000125653002000145653001900165653001200184653002500196653001100221653001100232653001200243653000900255653001600264653001600280653002400296653001500320653001400335100001500349700001500364700001300379700001100392700001400403245009100417300001000508490000800518520153000526022001402056       2007                            d  c2007 Nov10aAbsorptiometry, photon10aAdult10aAmino Acids10aBone Density10aBone Remodeling10aBone Resorption10aBone and Bones10aCalcium10aCase-Control Studies10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aOsteocalcin10aParathyroid Hormone10aPhosphorus10aVitamin D1 aRibeiro FB1 aPereira FA1 aMuller E1 aFoss N1 aPaula FJA00aEvaluation of bone and mineral metabolism in patients recently diagnosed with leprosy.  a322-60 v3343 a<p>This study was conducted to evaluate patients recently diagnosed with the tuberculoid and lepromatous forms of leprosy for bone mass, bone remodeling, and hormones related to mineral control. Eleven normal control individuals (CG) and 12 patients with leprosy (LG) matched for physical characteristics were submitted to evaluation of bone mass density (BMD) and to the determination of serum levels of PTH, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], testosterone, LH, FSH, osteocalcin (OC), and urinary levels of deoxypyridinoline (DPD). The T score of lumbar spine and total radius (mean +/- SD) were significantly lower in leprosy patients (L1-L4: CG = -0.7 +/- 1.5 vs LG = -1.8 +/- 1.0 SD, P < 0.04, and total radius: CG = -1.43 +/- 0.6 vs LG = -2.1 +/- 0.8 SD, P <0.02), whereas no significant differences were observed in total hip or femoral neck T score. However, at all sites, the rate of low bone mass (T score < -1.0) was higher in LG (femoral neck: CG = 18% vs LG = 50%, total hip: CG = 27% vs LG = 42%). There was a significant difference in albumin and PTH levels between groups but not in serum 25(OH)D and OC levels or urinary DPD levels. The present results indicate that bone mass loss is an early event in leprosy patients and frequently is already present at diagnosis. Its etiopathogenesis is multifactorial, and further studies are needed to determine the most efficient way to prevent fractures in this condition. The data obtained in the present study need confirmation by the evaluation of a larger sample.</p>  a0002-9629