PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Isabelle Fabreguet AU - Jacques Fechtenbaum AU - Karine Briot AU - Simon Paternotte AU - Christian Roux TI - Lumbar Disc Degeneration in Osteoporotic Men: Prevalence and Assessment of the Relation with Presence of Vertebral Fracture AID - 10.3899/jrheum.120769 DP - 2013 Jun 01 TA - The Journal of Rheumatology PG - jrheum.120769 4099 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2013/05/29/jrheum.120769.short 4100 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2013/05/29/jrheum.120769.full AB - Objective The relationship between osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis (OP) remains controversial. An inverse relationship between spine OA and the presence of prevalent vertebral fractures has been shown in osteoporotic women. Our objective was to assess this relationship in osteoporotic men. Methods All the patients had OP based on densitometric data and were aged ≥ 65 years. Spine radiographs were performed according to a standardized procedure. Vertebral fractures were assessed from T4 to L4 by a semiquantitative method. Disc degenerative changes were assessed by the presence and severity of osteophytes and disc narrowing at levels T12–L1 to L5–S1. Logistic regression was used to study the relationship between the presence of vertebral fracture and lumbar disc degeneration. Results The study included 261 osteoporotic men. The prevalence of vertebral fractures was 26.4% (69/261). At least 1 osteophyte was found in 91.6% (239/261) of patients, and at least 1 disc space narrowing in 63.5% (165/260). The prevalence of at least 1 osteophyte and/or at least 1 disc space narrowing was similar in patients with and those without vertebral fracture. No relationship was found between the presence and/or the severity of osteophytes and disc narrowings and the presence of prevalent vertebral radiographic fractures. Conclusion In osteoporotic men, the prevalence of lumbar spine degeneration is high. There is no relationship between lumbar disc degeneration and the presence of vertebral fracture in osteoporotic men.