Calcified Tissue International

, Volume 52, Issue 5, pp 354–357 | Cite as

Total and regional bone mineral content in women treated with GnRH agonists

  • H. Rico
  • F. Arnanz
  • M. Revilla
  • S. Perera
  • M. Iritia
  • L. F. Villa
  • I. Arribas
Clinical Investigations
Received:
Revised:

Summary

Changes in bone mineral content induced by GnRH agonists were investigated by measuring total body bone mineral content (TBBM) and regional bone mineral content (BMC) (arms, legs, trunk, pelvis) and densities with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in 25 premenopausal women before and after a 6-month treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. Biological markers of bone remodeling, estrogens, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone were also measured. Weight and body mass index increased significantly after treatment (P<0.05), and TBBM, corrected for weight (TBBM/W), decreased (P<0.001). The changes in BMC that we observed ranged from +2.5% to -6.9%. The greatest decrease in regional BMC occurred in the trunk (4.4%, P<0.001), with TBBM decreasing by 2.1% (P<0.001). No significant changes were observed in the limbs. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) increased significantly after treatment (P<0.001) and a significant negative correlation between TRAP and TBBM (P<0.001) and between TRAP and estradiol (P<0.001) were observed before treatment. The lack of changes observed in the BMC of the limbs indicate that GnRH agonists cause a preferential loss of BMC in trunk osseous structures, a situation similar to that of the first years of menopause.

Key words

GNRH agonists Bone mineral content Total, regional bone mineral content Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag New York Inc 1993

Authors and Affiliations

  • H. Rico
    • 1
  • F. Arnanz
    • 2
  • M. Revilla
    • 1
  • S. Perera
    • 2
  • M. Iritia
    • 3
  • L. F. Villa
    • 1
  • I. Arribas
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of MedicineUniversity Hospital, Alcalá de Henares UniversityMadridSpain
  2. 2.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology ServiceUniversity Hospital, Alcalá de Henares UniversityMadridSpain
  3. 3.Department of Biochemistry Section of the “Príncipe de Asturias”University Hospital, Alcalá de Henares UniversityMadridSpain

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