骨髓脂肪含量检测有助于预测骨骼稳定性

骨髓脂肪检测联合骨骼矿物质密度检测，能够更好地预测骨质疏松。使用双重X线吸收扫描进行骨骼矿物质密度检测，是目前最广泛应用的检测骨质疏松的方法。研究人员长期以来质疑是否存在其他骨骼检测指标能够提示骨骼的机械稳定性。

乔治敦大学医院(Washington DC, USA)研究人员进行的一项研究证实：骨髓脂肪含量增高是反应骨质疏松的独立指标。磁共振光谱检测是一种非侵入性的检查骨髓脂肪的方法。磁共振光谱检测能够在脊柱核磁共振检查的时候进行。这个小规模研究包括了26例患者，同时进行了腰椎磁共振光谱检查以及双重X线吸收扫描检测。结果15例患者脊椎椎骨无异常发现，而11例患者显示出骨质疏松的迹象。

研究人员长期以来一直质疑骨骼脂肪含量增高是否表示骨骼危险因素。但是磁共振光谱学检测应用于临床之前，临床医生如果需要检测骨骼脂肪，就必须通过外科手术从患者采集骨骼样本。这些研究人员认为，例如现在使用的非创伤性技术，开辟了崭新的诊断前景。

乔治敦大学研究人员认为：如果这些研究成果能够被更大规模的研究所证实，就可以使用新型药物治疗骨骼脂肪蓄积，以防止加重骨骼疏松。这个研究结果发表于2004年11月的《美国X线学期刊》。

Bone Marrow Fat Helps Predict Bone Stability
 
Evaluating bone marrow fat (BMF) in combination with bone mineral density (BMD) can better predict bone weakening. BMD assessment with dual-x-ray absortiometry (DEXA) is currently the most commonly used way of determining bone weakening. Investigators have long questioned whether there may be other measurable bone parameters that can indicate mechanical stability of bone.

A study performed by investigators at Georgetown University Hospital (Washington DC, USA) demonstrated that increased BMF is an independent marker of bone weakening. Magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy was utilized to assess BMF noninvasively. MR spectroscopy can be performed in conjunction with a spine MRI. This pilot study included 26 patients who had undergone both MR spectroscopy and DEXA of the lumbar spine. Fifteen had normal-appearing spine vertebra and 11 demonstrated signs of bone weakening.

Researchers have long suspected that increased bone fat content represents a bone risk factor. However, before MR spectroscopy, clinicians needed to examine bone fat by surgically removing bone samples from patients. A noninvasive technique such as this now opens new diagnostic prospects, according to the investigators.

If these results are validated by larger studies, increased fat accumulation in bone could be treated with new drugs, in an effort to avoid additional bone weakening, according to the Georgetown University researchers. The study was published in the December 20004 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.