Densitometria ossea: parametri ultrasonometrici in giovani sani

Background. This study was carried out in order to assess the possible changes of ultrasonometric parameters of bone (SOS, BUA, Stiffness) related to age in a normal male and female Italian population. Methods. A total of 150 healthy subjects subdivided into 2 groups (80females and 70 males) have been studied. The patients have been submitted to a careful anamnesis and clinical observation; the examination has been performed by placing the foot inside the ultrasonograph. Results. The results obtained show that there is a linear increase of SOS, BUA and Stiffness with age in the normal population and a similar pattern is observed in both sexes. Conclusions. These findings suggest that ultrasound parameters are able to detect and monitoring characteristics of bone structure. Therefore, ultrasound measurement should be considered as an alternative to radiation quantitative based methods for the assessment of the skeleton

Age- and menopause-related changes in speed of sound and ultrasound attenuation of the os calcis in a healthy Italian female population

This study assessed changes in ultrasonometric variables of bone (speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness) related to age and years since menopause in a normal Italian female population. Two hundred and thirty-one healthy female subjects, age range 18-78 years, divided into two groups (113 pre-menopausal, age range 18-51 years, and 118 post-menopausal, age range 46-78 years), were investigated. The results obtained show that there was a linear decrease in speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness with age; a similar pattern was also observed in post-menopausal women as far as the correlations between ultrasonometric variables and both age and years since menopause were concerned. In particular, speed of sound declined at a rate of 0.86 m/s for each year post-menopause, while broadband ultrasound attenuation declined at 0.4 dB/MHz, and stiffness at 0.5 units. These findings suggest that ultrasound variables might be able to detect characteristics of bone that are barely influenced by estrogen deficiency, and depend on other factors. Therefore, ultrasound measurement should be considered as a possible alternative to xray densitometry for the assessment of the skeleton. (C) 1997, Editrice Kurtis