Total body bone measurements in spinal osteoporosis by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Changes in total body bone mineral content (BMCTB) and density (BMDTB), and the T-score of BMCTB and (BMDTB) were evaluated in relation to the number of vertebral fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis for the purpose of defining deviations in these parameters that could be predictive of the occurrence of vertebral fracture. The study group consisted of 62 women diagnosed with postmenopausal osteoporosis. All of them had two or more spinal fractures. Regression analysis of the number of fractures against each parameter studied indicated that the following were predictive of the risk of fracture: a reduction of -0.5 in the T-score of both BMCTB and BMDTB (P < 0.0001) and a loss of about 135 g of BMCTB or 0. 058 g/cm2 of BMDTB (P < 0.0001). The fact that such changes were found during the follow-up of women with osteoporosis highlights the importance of bone mass measurements during follow-up.