Clinical and biochemical studies of osteopenia in liver cirrhosis

In the present study, we have investigated the incidence of osteopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis and the clinical characteristics of cirrhotic patients accompanying osteopenia. Osteopenia was found only 21.2% by Microdensitometry (MD) method but was 61.5% when determined by Jikei method. Three of 28 patients with liver cirrhosis presenting normal pattern by MD method had vertebral compression fractures. In a addition, results obtained with Jikei method is nearly the same as those of Singh index. These present observations suggest that roentgengraphic examination of the trabecular bones such as vertebrae is necessary for the diagnosis of osteopenia in liver cirrhosis. The number of patients with osteopenia was significantly high in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, decreased serum cholinesterase activity and increased serum γ-globulin level compared with compensated cirrhotic patients. These observations indicate that the incidence of osteopenia in liver cirrhosis had gradually increased with progression of liver damage. In addition, alcohol intake and secondary hyperparathyroidism may have significantly influenced osteopenia in liver cirrhosis.