Thyroid Dysfunctional State Detected by QUS Measurements at Multiple Skeletal Sites
Hyperthyroidism in postmenopausal women is associated with accelerated bone loss that results in lower BMD as detected by DEXA, SPA, QCT as well as bone markers’ levels. However, there is no data of QUS evaluation in thyrotoxic patients.
Hyperthyroidism in postmenopausal women is associated with accelerated bone loss that results in lower BMD as detected by DEXA, SPA, QCT as well as bone markers’ levels. However, there is no data of QUS evaluation in thyrotoxic patients.
This study evaluates the effect of altered thyroid states on SOS measurements in different skeletal sites, using a novel QUS apparatus.
Euthyroid goitrous (age 59±11), hypothyroid (age 58±13), and hyperthyroid (age 55±11) female patients were evaluated by the Sunlight OmnisenseTM (Sunlight, Israel) at the medial radius, mid-tibia and proximal phalanx III.
Results are presented in the table below:
Whereas mean SOS at all measured sites of the euthyroid controls did not differ from the corresponding age matched mean normal values (58±5), both hyper and hypothyroid patients had statistically significant lower SOS measurements at all three sites. It may be hypothesized that in hyperthyroidism the lower SOS results from lower BMD, as was previously reported. On the other hand in hypothyroidism, interstitial fluid that may accumulate inside the bone slows down the propagation of the ultrasonic wave.
We conclude that QUS using the Sunlight OmnisenseTM reflects the altered bone metabolic state in both hypo and hyperthyroidism. Further studies are conducted to relate the degree of hyper and hypothyroidism and the SOS measurement.
Radius
Tibia
Phalanx III
N
SOS (mean±std)
N
SOS (mean±std)
N
SOS (mean±std)
221
4095±135
229
3857±148
184
3908±194
40
4079±197
38
3847±154
37
3902±193
25
4031±171
27
3795±188
23
3840±260
33
3991±163
38
3773±179
37
3817±234
