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Decreased bone mineral density and content in neurofibromatosis type 1: Lowest local values are located in the load-carrying parts of the body

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Abstract

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a dominantly inherited disease. Skeletal ailments such as short stature, kyphoscoliosis, tibial bowing and pseudarthrosis are common osseous manifestations of NF1. Previously, a correlation with scoliosis and decreased bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine has been reported in 12 NF1 patients. A total of 35 NF1 patients and 26 healthy controls were included in the present study. Of the participants over 20 years of age (26 NF1 patients and all controls) 14 were male and 12 were female, seven of whom were premenopausal. The controls were matched for age, sex and body mass index (BMI). Physical activity and medical history of NF1 patients were evaluated to screen the fractures and osseous manifestations of the disease and to rule out the factors that effect BMD. BMD and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured with DXA, using a total body program. The present study detected a lowered bone mineral density ( p =0.028) and content ( p <0.001) in NF1 patients of both sexes. The results of the present study also show that NF1 patients have an increased risk for osteoporosis. Among NF1 patients seven cases of osteoporosis and 13 cases of osteopenia were detected. In controls, one case of osteoporosis and 13 cases of osteopenia were detected. The location of the lowest local BMD was clustered to the load-carrying parts of the body in NF1 patients. Physical activity and the medical history of the NF1 patients did not explain the decreased BMD and BMC. The findings of the present and previous studies suggest that the pathogenesis of the osseous manifestations in NF1 may involve impaired development of the skeletal system and impaired maintenance of bone structure.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the patients and their families for excellent cooperation and Oulu Deaconess Institute, Oulu, Finland. This study was supported by grants from the Cancer Society of Finland, Oulu University Hospital, grant # H01139, Academy of Finland and The Finnish Medical Foundation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    T. Kuorilehto & Juha Peltonen

  2. Department of Medical Genetics, Family Federation of Finland, Helsinki, Finland

    M. Pöyhönen

  3. Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    R. Bloigu

  4. Osteoporosis Clinic, Oulu Deaconess Institute, Oulu, Finland

    J. Heikkinen

  5. Department of Anatomy, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    K. Väänänen & Juha Peltonen

  6. Department of Dermatology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Juha Peltonen

Authors
  1. T. Kuorilehto
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  2. M. Pöyhönen
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  3. R. Bloigu
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  4. J. Heikkinen
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  5. K. Väänänen
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  6. Juha Peltonen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juha Peltonen.

Additional information

T. Kuorilehto and M. Pöyhönen contributed equally to the study

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Kuorilehto, T., Pöyhönen, M., Bloigu, R. et al. Decreased bone mineral density and content in neurofibromatosis type 1: Lowest local values are located in the load-carrying parts of the body. Osteoporos Int 16, 928–936 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-004-1801-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-004-1801-4

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