Prevalence of Osteopenia in Female HBV Carriers and its Correlation with Liver Function Test / 대한진단검사의학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Osteopenia has been recognized as one of the potential complications of chronic liver disease. However, its correlation with hepatits B virus (HBV) carriage has not been reported. Thus this study was aimed to clarify the relationship between osteopenia and HBV carriage. METHODS: Bone density was measured in 192 HBV carrier women and 200 healthy women in the following sites the lumbar spine and three sites of the proximal femur (the neck, Ward's triangle, greater trochanter) by dual-photon absorptiometry. Liver function tests (AST, ALT, Albumin, GGT, and ALP) were also performed. RESULTS: The levels of the bone density measured at the four sites were significantly correlated with each other (r=0.34 to 0.99, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, HBV carriers showed a significant decrease in the bone density of the femur (P<0.05); the decrease was particularly marked at the Ward's triangle. A negative correlation was found between bone density and serum total alkaline phosphatase level (r=-0.44, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Osteopenia was more prevalent in HBV carriers, particularly in those younger than 50 years of age. Serum total alkaline phosphatase level was higher in those with a reduced bone density; thus, the measurement of bone density may be indicated in female HBV carriers.