BONE MINERAL IN SARCOIDOSIS

. The uptake of 85Sr in the spine and both the bone mineral linear density (g/cm) and mineral density (g/cm3) of the trabecular radius, midshaft radius and ulnae have been measured in 21 untreated sarcoid patients, using the 241Am γ-transmission method. The results were compared with control subjects who showed no evidence of bone involvement or disturbances in calcium kinetics. Sarcoidosis was considered to be subacute active in 14 cases (5 male and 9 female), subacute inactive in four (1 male and 3 female) and chronic active in three (1 male and 2 female). The study showed: (a) In women the mean 85Sr uptake in the spine was significantly smaller than in the controls. (b) In the early stages of the disease the 85Sr uptake values were lower than when the disease was prolonged both in men and women. (c) The bone mineral linear density of the trabecular radius in active subacute sarcoidosis was significantly higher than in the controls. The relative difference in mineral density was of the same magnitude. (d) In chronic sarcoidosis neither the 85Sr uptake in the spine nor the bone mineral values differed from the control values. (e) The mineral linear density and density in the midshaft radius and ulnae were at the same level as in the controls. (f) A significant negative correlation was established between the 85Sr uptake in the spine and the bone mineral density in the distal radius. It seems evident from this study that patients in the acute phase of sarcoidosis have an abnormally high bone mineral density and that there is a distinct mineral decrease correlated with the duration of the disease.