PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Yasushi Akamatsu
AU  - Naoto Mitsugi
AU  - Naoya Taki
AU  - Ryouhei Takeuchi
AU  - Tomoyuki Saito
TI  - Relationship Between Low Bone Mineral Density and Varus Deformity in Postmenopausal Women with Knee Osteoarthritis
AID  - 10.3899/jrheum.080699
DP  - 2009 Feb 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - jrheum.080699
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2009/02/04/jrheum.080699.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2009/02/04/jrheum.080699.full
AB  - Objective To assess the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and varus deformity arising from bone structural changes caused by knee osteoarthritis (OA) in postmenopausal women. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 135 consecutive postmenopausal female patients who had varus knee OA and a Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥ 2. Knee radiographs were obtained with the patient standing on one leg, and subjects were classified into 3 tertile groups according to femorotibial angle, which was taken as a measure of varus knee OA severity. We also measured the 3 subangles that make up the femorotibial angle, and focused on the varus inclination of the tibial plateau. BMD was measured in the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and medial and lateral tibial condyles using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Differences between femorotibial angle tertile groups were assessed, and associations between femorotibial sub-angles and BMD values at various points were evaluated. Results After adjustment for age and body mass index, there was no significant association between the varus inclination of the tibial plateau and lumbar spine BMD. A weak but statistically significant negative correlation existed between varus inclination of the tibial plateau and BMD at the ipsilateral proximal femur and lateral tibial condyle. Conclusion Varus inclination of the tibial plateau was significantly more severe in the femorotibial angle tertile 3 group, and in patients with lower BMD in the ipsilateral lower limb. Varus knee OA may result not only from cartilage loss but also from structural changes of the bone.