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. 2020 Jul 21:2020:4634709.
doi: 10.1155/2020/4634709. eCollection 2020.

The Trabecular Bone Score as a Predictor for Thalassemia-Induced Vertebral Fractures in Northeastern Thailand

Nattiya Teawtrakul  1 , Sukanya Chukanhom  2 , Suranut Charoensri  3 , Charoonsak Somboonporn  4 , Chatlert Pongchaiyakul  3
Affiliations

The Trabecular Bone Score as a Predictor for Thalassemia-Induced Vertebral Fractures in Northeastern Thailand

Nattiya Teawtrakul et al. Anemia. .

Abstract

Introduction: Thalassemia bone disease is one of the disease-related complications in patients with thalassemia. Prevalence of fractures and the role of a trabecular bone score (TBS) as a predictive factor for fractures were evaluated in patients with thalassemia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with thalassemia aged ≥18 years at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. A lateral thoracolumbar radiograph and bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and hip, as well as the TBS measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), were evaluated in all patients.

Results: Among 86 patients, 14 patients were found to have radiographic vertebral fracture yielding a prevalence of 16.3%. All patients who had fractures were β-thalassemia/Hb E. Combined low BMD and TBS at lumbar spines and a presence of endocrinopathies were significantly associated with vertebral fractures.

Conclusions: The prevalence of vertebral fractures in patients with thalassemia was not uncommon. A combined low BMD and TBS and a presence of endocrinopathies were associated with vertebral fractures. These findings suggested that BMD testing and TBS measurement have a clinical implication as a screening tool for evaluating the risk of vertebral fractures in thalassemic patients, particularly in β-thalassemia/Hb E who have endocrinopathies.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of vertebral fractures predicted by the BMD and TBS. The values at the top of the bars are odds ratios (OR).
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