[Influence of anthropometric parameters on bone mineral density. Correlations with age and sex]. / Influenza dei parametri antropometrici sulla densità osseo. Correlazioni con età e sesso.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to analyse the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and some anthropometric parameters such as body weight and height, body mass index, age and sex. METHODS: This study has been carried out between January 1997 and March 2000 in 2839 patients, subdivided into 2679 women (mean age 63.2 +/- 11 years; range: 26-86 years) and 160 men (mean age 58.9 +/- 16.1 years; range: 20-95 years), at the Climatric Unit of the University of Catania The assessment of BMD was measured using a DEXA densitometer method (TurboScan p-DXA, NIM, Verona, Italy). In all patients with high risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures, a statistical analysis of the variance (ANOVA), in order to point out the predictivity of these parameters. RESULTS: The results of the measurements have confirmed a strong relationship between BMD values and sex, age and body constitution. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, the importance is stressed of diagnostic, instrumental and laboratory investigations for all patients with and without normal body constitution, in order to analyse the bone mineral status and establish an appropriate preventive therapy.

Treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon with captopril.

The efficacy of captopril in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon was observed in an open study in 53 patients with primitive Raynaud's disease and in 18 patients with Raynaud's associated with scleroderma. Each patient was given captopril 25 mg three times a day for three months. The drug significantly decreased the frequency and the severity of ischaemic attacks in patients with Raynaud's disease, but did not affect the attacks in patients with scleroderma. These subjective ratings were supported by the results of digital strain gauge plethysmography during cold challenge. The therapy was discontinued in six patients (one because of an allergic skin reaction and five owing to orthostatic hypotension), but no serious side-effects were noticed.

Injectable gold dermatitis and proteinuria: retreatment with auranofin.

Seven female patients with classical rheumatoid arthritis (RA), treated successfully with injectable gold salts (Fosfocrisolo ICI, 0.10 g/week, with a serum gold concentration of 200-400 mcg/dl), experienced severe gold side-effects after 3 to 20 months of therapy, requiring their withdrawal from gold despite the good results in both clinical and laboratory findings. Four patients showed mucocutaneous side-effects (2 dermatitis and 2 stomatitis) and three a moderate or severe proteinuria. Renal biopsy was performed in these patients, with a histological picture of membranous glomerulonephritis referable to gold therapy. Remission inducing drug (R.I.D.) therapy being mandatory in patients with a chronic progressive disease, and in view of the previous efficacy of gold salts, the patients were put on oral gold, Auranofin being administered 3 mg b.i.d. Both the mucocutaneous side-effects and the proteinuria ameliorated within 2 to 6 months, and the remission of the disease was maintained. The chemical and pharmacokinetic differences between the above two gold compounds are discussed.

Pulmonary hypertension and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Various pleuropulmonary manifestations are reported to occur in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Among these, pulmonary hypertension is one of the most uncommonly observed. The natural course of this involvement can be independent of the primary disease, and resembles primitive pulmonary hypertension. Various pathogenetic mechanisms might be responsible for this picture. In the case here reported, the pathological data were strongly suggestive of pulmonary vasculitis, emphasizing that SLE, like other connective tissue diseases, can be responsible for fatal pulmonary hypertension.