Effect of estrogen replacement therapy on speed of sound at multiple skeletal sites

• Published in: Maturitas Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 237 - 243
• Main Authors: Weiss, M, Ben Shlomo, A, Hagag, P, Rapoport, M, Ish-Shalom, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 30.06.2000; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Density; Case-Control Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Fingers - diagnostic imaging; Hormone replacement therapy (HRT); Hormones. Endocrine system; Humans; Medical sciences; Metatarsus - diagnostic imaging; Middle Aged; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - diagnostic imaging; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Quantitative ultrasound (QUS); Radius - diagnostic imaging; Speed of sound (SOS); Tibia - diagnostic imaging; Ultrasonography; Osteoporosis; Hormone replacement therapy (HRT); Speed of sound (SOS); Quantitative ultrasound (QUS); Human; Speed; Chemotherapy; Replacement therapy; Menopause; Estrogen; Female; Sound; Bone; Sex steroid hormone; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 0378-5122; 1873-4111
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-5122(00)00124-9

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on postmenopausal bone loss by multi-site ultrasound measurement. Methods: A cross-sectional comparison of postmenopausal women, ERT users and non-users. The two study groups were enrolled for the reference database collection for the Sunlight Omnisense™ (Omnisense) and were matched by years since menopause. Speed of sound (SOS) was measured at the distal radius (RAD), mid-shaft tibia (TIB), fifth metatarsus (MTR) and proximal phalanx (PLX). Results: 143 ERT users for 5.2±3.6 years were compared with 139 ERT non-users (age: 57.0±5.3 and 57.5±5.5, respectively). Both groups were 7.1±5.0 years since menopause. SOS, expressed in T-score units, was higher at the RAD in ERT users as compared to ERT non-users (−0.55±1.30 and −1.36±1.60, respectively, P<0.0001), and at the TIB (−0.73±1.34 and −1.28±1.45, respectively, P=0.003). Same trend was observed at the MTR and PLX, but not statistically significant because of fewer observations. In early post menopause period, the ERT-non users RAD data shows an annual SOS decrease of 0.17 versus annual increase of 0.12 T-score units ( P=0.037). Similar effect is observed at the TIB, though not statistically significant (non-users decrease of 0.20 vs. users increase of 0.08 T-score units/year, P=0.086). Conclusions: SOS measurements by Omnisense at multiple skeletal sites support the ERT protective effect on bone.