High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-PQCT) assessment of trabecular and cortical bone microarchitecture in the elderly, in children with imune-inflammatory diseases, and in experimental models of bone diseases

• Grant number: 09/54200-5
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• Duration: August 01, 2010 - July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Rosa Maria Rodrigues Pereira
• Grantee: Rosa Maria Rodrigues Pereira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• EMU web page: Página do Equipamento Multiusuário não informada
• Type of equipment: Tipo de Equipamento Multiusuário não informado
• Manufacturer: Fabricante não informado
• Model: Modelo não informado

Abstract

Osteoporosis and its main consequence, fracture, is a public health problem worldwide, partly due to the increase in the number of people over 65 years of age. Bone mineral density obtained by densitometry is still the gold standard for the diagnosis of this disease. However, it is not the ideal measure for predicting fracture risk and response to therapy. High-resolution peripheral computed tomography can be used in order to characterize the bone microarchitecture in 3D without the need for bone biopsy. The following parameters can be obtained with this equipment: trabecular number, trabecular separation, trabecular thickness, bone volume to total volume ratio, cortical porosity, cortical thickness etc. These parameters will help evaluate the 3D macrostructure and microstructure of bone, as well as the biomechanics, none of which are detected by densitometry or even by bone histomorphometry (the latter due to a limited amount of tissue). High-resolution peripheral computed tomography therefore allows a better understanding of the mechanism of fracture. The purpose of this proposal/project is to assess the incidence of fractures in a population of 1,016 elderly individuals in the Butantã community who participated in the initial study, which received financial support from FAPESP and ended in July of 2009, resulting so far in two articles published in international journals with good impact factors (> 2). High-resolution peripheral computed tomography is also used to evaluate bone health in children with immune-inflammatory diseases who are treated with glucocorticoids. The equipment will also be useful in determining bone status in mice with allergic lung inflammation (induced by ovalbumin administration) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (induced by administration of elastase or exposure to cigarette smoke) and subjected to a protocol of physical conditioning, as well as in an experimental animal model of bone disease secondary to renal failure. (AU)