Total body calcium by neutron activation analysis in normals and osteoporotic populations: a discriminator of significant bone mass loss

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · J. Lab. Clin. Med.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6724665

Ott, S M; Murano, R; Lewellen, T K; Nelp, W B; Chesnut, C M

Measurements of total body calcium by neutron activation (TBC) in 94 normal individuals and 86 osteoporotic patients are reported. The ability of TBC to discriminate normal from osteoporotic females was evaluated with decision analysis. Bone mineral content (BMC) by single-photon absorptiometry was also measured. TBC was higher in males (range 826 to 1363 gm vs 537 to 1054 in females) and correlated with height in all normals. In females over age 55 there was a negative correlation with age. Thus, for normals an algorithm was derived to allow comparison between measured TBC and that predicted by sex, age, and height (TBCp). In the 28 normal females over age 55, the TBC was 764 +/- 115 gm vs. 616 +/- 90 in the osteoporotics. In 63 of the osteoporotic females an estimated height, from tibial length, was used to predict TBC. In normals the TBC/TBCp ratio was 1.00 +/- 0.12, whereas in osteoporotic females it was 0.80 +/- 0.12. A receiver operating characteristic curve showed better discrimination of osteoporosis with TBC/TBCp than with wrist BMC. By using Bayes' theorem, with a 25% prevalence of osteoporosis (estimate for postmenopausal women), the posttest probability of disease was 90% when the TBC/TBCp ratio was less than 0.84. The authors conclude that a low TBC/TBCp ratio is very helpful in determining osteoporosis.

• OSTI ID: 6724665
• Journal Information: J. Lab. Clin. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Lab. Clin. Med.; (United States) Vol. 102:4; ISSN JLCMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
AGE DEPENDENCE
ALGORITHMS
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BARYON REACTIONS
BODY
BODY COMPOSITION
CALCIUM
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CORRELATIONS
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ELEMENTS
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MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
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NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEON REACTIONS
ORGANS
OSTEOPOROSIS
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SKELETAL DISEASES
SKELETON