骨髓脂肪檢測(cè)聯(lián)合骨骼礦物質(zhì)密度檢測(cè)，能夠更好地預(yù)測(cè)骨質(zhì)疏松。使用雙重X線吸收掃描進(jìn)行骨骼礦物質(zhì)密度檢測(cè)，是目前最廣泛應(yīng)用的檢測(cè)骨質(zhì)疏松的方法。研究人員長(zhǎng)期以來(lái)質(zhì)疑是否存在其他骨骼檢測(cè)指標(biāo)能夠提示骨骼的機(jī)械穩(wěn)定性。

喬治敦大學(xué)醫(yī)院(Washington DC, USA)研究人員進(jìn)行的一項(xiàng)研究證實(shí)：骨髓脂肪含量增高是反應(yīng)骨質(zhì)疏松的獨(dú)立指標(biāo)。磁共振光譜檢測(cè)是一種非侵入性的檢查骨髓脂肪的方法。磁共振光譜檢測(cè)能夠在脊柱核磁共振檢查的時(shí)候進(jìn)行。這個(gè)小規(guī)模研究包括了26例患者，同時(shí)進(jìn)行了腰椎磁共振光譜檢查以及雙重X線吸收掃描檢測(cè)。結(jié)果15例患者脊椎椎骨無(wú)異常發(fā)現(xiàn)，而11例患者顯示出骨質(zhì)疏松的跡象。

研究人員長(zhǎng)期以來(lái)一直質(zhì)疑骨骼脂肪含量增高是否表示骨骼危險(xiǎn)因素。但是磁共振光譜學(xué)檢測(cè)應(yīng)用于臨床之前，臨床醫(yī)生如果需要檢測(cè)骨骼脂肪，就必須通過(guò)外科手術(shù)從患者采集骨骼樣本。這些研究人員認(rèn)為，例如現(xiàn)在使用的非創(chuàng)傷性技術(shù)，開(kāi)辟了嶄新的診斷前景。

喬治敦大學(xué)研究人員認(rèn)為：如果這些研究成果能夠被更大規(guī)模的研究所證實(shí)，就可以使用新型藥物治療骨骼脂肪蓄積，以防止加重骨骼疏松。這個(gè)研究結(jié)果發(fā)表于2004年11月的《美國(guó)X線學(xué)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.