MRI-based abnormalities in young adults at risk of adverse bone health due to childhood-onset metabolic & endocrine conditions

McComb, C., Harpur, A., Yacoubian, C., Leddy, C., Anderson, G., Shepherd, S., Perry, C., Shaikh, M.G., Foster, J. and Ahmed, S.F. (2014) MRI-based abnormalities in young adults at risk of adverse bone health due to childhood-onset metabolic & endocrine conditions. Clinical Endocrinology, 80(6), pp. 811-817. (doi: 10.1111/cen.12367)

Abstract

Objective: Traditional methods of bone densitometry may not provide a comprehensive assessment of bone health. We aimed to assess bone micro-architecture and bone marrow adiposity (BMA) by MRI in adults with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and endocrinopathy including GH deficiency and/or hypogonadism.<p></p> Measurements: High-resolution micro-MRI images were acquired at the tibia using 3T MRI to calculate parameters of bone micro-architecture in seven adults with OI and 10 adults with endocrinopathies. MR Spectroscopy was performed in participants to calculate vertebral BMA, which was expressed as percentage fat fraction (%FF). Lumbar spine DXA was performed to assess bone mineral density. The MRI data were compared with a group of 22 healthy adults who were divided into two age-matched control groups.<p></p> Results: Intra-operator repeatability was high, with an average CoV of 1% for micro-MRI and 2·5% for MRS. The ratio of apparent bone volume to total volume (appBV/TV) in the endocrinopathy and OI groups was lower than in age-matched control groups (P = 0·003 and P = 0·008 respectively). A weak association between DXA BMD and appBV/TV was also observed (r = 0·5, P = 0·045). %FF was higher in the endocrinopathy group than in the age-matched control group (P = 0·005), but no difference in %FF was observed between the OI group and their age-matched control group (P = 0·26).<p></p> Conclusions: MRI provides valuable detailed information on the micro-architecture and adiposity of bones and is capable of showing clear differences in bone parameters in a range of clinical conditions associated with abnormal bone health.<p></p>

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Shepherd, Dr Scott and Anderson, Ms Gillian and Perry, Dr Colin and Foster, Dr John and Shaikh, Dr Mohammed Guftar and Ahmed, Professor Syed Faisal
• Authors: McComb, C., Harpur, A., Yacoubian, C., Leddy, C., Anderson, G., Shepherd, S., Perry, C., Shaikh, M.G., Foster, J., and Ahmed, S.F.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Clinical Endocrinology
• Publisher: Society for Endocrinology
• ISSN: 0300-0664
• ISSN (Online): 1365-2265