REDUCED BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN YOUNG, NON-CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC VIRAL HEPATITIS

Bone anomalies are well-known complications of advanced hepatic diseases, but a relationship with non-cirrhotic hepatopathies remains to be confirmed. In this study, we investigated young adults with viral hepatitis B or C to determine whether their condition may impact bone loss and which factors influence this phenomenon. Subjects were divided in 3 groups. Descriptive statistics were based on anthropometric, bone density and disease-related parameters (viral load, disease length, fibrosis grade and treatment history). We compared bone demineralization between each group and aimed to determine associations between anthropometric or disease-related parameters and bone density measurements. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify predictors for bone demineralisation. Reduced bone mineral density prevalence was of 11%, most of them males in hepatitis B group and, respectively 11%, most of them females in hepatitis C group, 5 times greater than the control group. Hepatitis C females had lower Z-scores than control females at the hip. In hepatitis B patients, age, male gender, fibrosis grade, disease length and antiviral therapies were found to play an important role in bone demineralization. In hepatitis C patients, most of the anthropometric characteristics (body mass index and female gender) had quantifiable impact on bone loss. These patients could be considered for early screening and treatment.