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Bone changes in alcoholic liver cirrhosis

A histomorphometrical analysis of 52 cases

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Abstract

Bone biopsies of 52 histologically confirmed alcoholic cirrhotic patients and 15 age- and sex-matched controls have been histomorphometrically analyzed determining trabecular bone volume (TBV), mineralized bone volume (MBV), and osteoid volume (OV). We also determined serum PTH, 25-OH-D3, calcitonin, FSH, LH, estradiol, testosterone, T3 and T4, urine cortisol, routine liver function tests, serum and urinary calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. We found a high prevalence of osteoporosis: TBV was significantly lower in cirrhotic patients (T=7.23, P<0.001), 41 of them being in the range of osteoporosis; none of them had osteomalacia. Levels of all the above-mentioned hormones and electrolytes were almost normal, and no correlation was found between them and liver function tests, as occurred with the bone parameters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Universidad de la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    J. A. Jorge-Hernandez MD, C. E. Gonzalez-Reimers MD, A. Torres-Ramirez MD, F. Santolaria-Fernandez MD, C. Gonzalez-Garcia MD, J. N. Batista-Lopez MD, M. Pestana-Pestana MD & L. Hernandez-Nieto MD

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  1. J. A. Jorge-Hernandez MD
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  2. C. E. Gonzalez-Reimers MD
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  3. A. Torres-Ramirez MD
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  4. F. Santolaria-Fernandez MD
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  5. C. Gonzalez-Garcia MD
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  6. J. N. Batista-Lopez MD
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  7. M. Pestana-Pestana MD
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  8. L. Hernandez-Nieto MD
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Jorge-Hernandez, J.A., Gonzalez-Reimers, C.E., Torres-Ramirez, A. et al. Bone changes in alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Digest Dis Sci 33, 1089–1095 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01535783

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01535783

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