Bone histomorphometry and structure in corticosteroid treated chronic active hepatitis

Abstract

Transiliac biopsies from 34 female patients with corticosteroid treated chronic active hepatitis have been examined to determine the contributions made by decreased bone formation and increased bone resorption to bone loss associated with this condition and to determine the structural basis of the bone loss. Mean wall thickness was significantly reduced when compared with control values (p<0.001) as was the bone formation rate at tissue (p 0.005) and basic multicellular unit (p<0.005) level. The osteoid maturation period and the bone formation period were significantly prolonged (p<0.02 and 0.05). The total resorption surfaces were significantly increased (p<0.02) but the mean interstitial bone thickness was normal. The mean trabecular plate thickness was significantly reduced (p<0.005). These findings indicate that decreased bone formation plays a major role in bone loss associated with corticosteroid treated chronic active hepatitis and that the structural basis of bone loss is trabecular thinning.