Broadband ultrasound attenuation of the calcaneus. A tool for assessing bone status in patients with chronic renal failure.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) for the assessment of bone status and to correlate this to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in haemodialysis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 60 patients, BUA (dB/MHz) was determined for the calcaneus. The results were expressed as Z-scores and T-scores, i.e. units of standard deviations respectively from age- and sex-matched normal values and from sex-matched normal mean values in healthy young adults. Ultrasound data were correlated to relevant clinical, biochemical and DXA data (g/cm2), which were examined at the femoral neck and at the lumbar spine in 50 patients. RESULTS: The BUA Z-score was < -1 in 53% of the patients and < -2 in 22%. The BUA T-score was < -1 in 88% and < -2 in 62%. Moderate correlation was found for calcaneal BUA to DXA in men (r = 0.47-0.48, p < 0.01) and to DXA of the lumbar spine in women (r = 0.51, p < 0.05). The best correlation was observed for BUA to DXA of the femoral neck in women (r = 0.61, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Calcaneal BUA is an additional tool for the surveillance of bone density in haemodialysed patients.