Thyroid Dysfunctional State Detected by QUS Measurements at Multiple Skeletal Sites

Hyperthyroidism in postmenopausal women is associated with accelerated bone loss that results in lower BMD as detected by DEXA, SPA, QCT as well as bone markers’ levels. However, there is no data of QUS evaluation in thyrotoxic patients.

This study evaluates the effect of altered thyroid states on SOS measurements in different skeletal sites, using a novel QUS apparatus.

Euthyroid goitrous (age 59±11), hypothyroid (age 58±13), and hyperthyroid (age 55±11) female patients were evaluated by the Sunlight Omnisense^TM (Sunlight, Israel) at the medial radius, mid-tibia and proximal phalanx III.

Results are presented in the table below:

Whereas mean SOS at all measured sites of the euthyroid controls did not differ from the corresponding age matched mean normal values (58±5), both hyper and hypothyroid patients had statistically significant lower SOS measurements at all three sites. It may be hypothesized that in hyperthyroidism the lower SOS results from lower BMD, as was previously reported. On the other hand in hypothyroidism, interstitial fluid that may accumulate inside the bone slows down the propagation of the ultrasonic wave.

We conclude that QUS using the Sunlight Omnisense^TM reflects the altered bone metabolic state in both hypo and hyperthyroidism. Further studies are conducted to relate the degree of hyper and hypothyroidism and the SOS measurement.

Radius

Tibia

Phalanx III

N

SOS (mean±std)

N

SOS (mean±std)

N

SOS (mean±std)

221

4095±135

229

3857±148

184

3908±194

40

4079±197

38

3847±154

37

3902±193

25

4031±171

27

3795±188

23

3840±260

33

3991±163

38

3773±179

37

3817±234