Bone Mineral Density Status in 48 Iraqi Hyperthyroid Patients

Abstract

Background: Bone disease of hyperthyroidism is a type of high-turnover osteoporosis. In many patients
with hyperthyroidism, there is excessive bone resorption, occasionally marked in degree and far
exceeding that in the usual patient with osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bone
mineral density (BMD) in hyperthyroid patients in a controlled study.
Patients and Methods. The study group consists of 48 patients with hyperthyroidism who were seen at
Specialized Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes, and at Rheumatology Clinic and Osteoporosis Clinic
in Baghdad Teaching Hospital. In all patients, measurement of BMD at the lumbar spine (L1-L4) using
dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) machine was done.
Results: The BMD was reduced in 40 patients (83.33%). Seventeen postmenopausal women, 2
premenopausal, and 2 men have osteopenia. Fourteen postmenopausal women and 2 premenopausal
women have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis was not reported in men.
Conclusion: When compared with control group, the prevalence of osteopenia in hyperthyroid patients
was statistically significant in postmenopausal women only (p = 0.013).