Increased rates of spinal trabecular bone loss in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Low bone mineral content (BMC) in spinal trabecular bone and cortical bone in the radius has been demonstrated in approximately one third of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The authors have performed repeat measurements of BMC after 1 year to determine the rate of bone loss in these patients. BMC was measured in spinal trabecular bone by quantitative computerised tomography and in cortical radial bone by single photon absorptiometry. Thirty-five patients (18 female) aged 23-77 were studied. In 26 patients, changes in spinal trabecular BMC were similar to those observed in controls; however 11 patients, 4 male, aged 23-73 years, showed accelerated rates of bone loss ranging from 8 to 50% of the initial BMC (mean 19%). All but 2 of these had received steroids over the preceding year; 9 of the 11 patients had small bowel IBD with resection.