Demineralization in cystic fibrosis detected by direct photon absorptiometry
E. H. Mischler, P. J. Chesney, R. W. Chesney and R. B. Mazess
Bone mineral content, bone width, and their ratio were measured in patients
with cystic fibrosis (CF) using monoenergetic photon absorptiometry. Serial
measurements of the radius and ulna were made in 27 patients with CF and
were compared with 968 age-matched controls. Demineralization was found in
37% of the boys and 63% of the girls. Patients under age 10 years had
normal bone mineral content and nine of 15 patients aged 13 or older were
demineralized (P less than .01). Demineralization correlated with the
extent of weight reduction in patients (P less than .001). Patients most
likely to be demineralized were adolescent girls. To our knowledge, this is
the first report of bone mineral status of children with CF, and the
results indicate that a sizable proportion of these patients may be
demineralized without overt rickets.
