Monotherapy with Levetiracetam Versus Older AEDs: A Randomized Comparative Trial of Effects on Bone Health.

Long-term anti-epileptic drug (AED) therapy is associated with increased fracture risk. This study tested whether substituting the newer AED levetiracetam has less adverse effects on bone than older AEDs. An open-label randomized comparative trial.

Weight and fat distribution in patients taking valproate: a valproate-discordant gender-matched twin and sibling pair study.

Objectives: Chronic treatment with valproate (VPA) is commonly associated with weight gain, which potentially has important health implications, in particular increased central fat distribution. We utilized a VPA-discordant same-sex, twin and matched sibling pair study design to primarily examine for differences in fat distribution between patients with epilepsy treated with VPA compared to their matched twin or sibling control. Weight, blood pressure, and leptin levels were assessed.

Glucocorticoid-induced bone loss is associated with abnormal intravertebral areal bone mineral density distribution.

Individuals with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis experience vertebral fractures at an increased rate and at higher vertebral areal bone mineral density (aBMD) than individuals with primary osteoporosis. Standard posteroanterior- (PA-) projection dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) lacks the diagnostic sensitivity required for reliable estimation of vertebral fracture risk in individuals. Assessment of subregional vertebral aBMD using lateral-projection DXA may improve the predictive value of DXA parameters for fracture.

Failure strength of human vertebrae: prediction using bone mineral density measured by DXA and bone volume by micro-CT.

Significant relationships exist between areal bone mineral density (BMD) derived from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bone strength. However, the predictive validity of BMD for osteoporotic vertebral fractures remains suboptimal. The diagnostic sensitivity of DXA in the lumbar spine may be improved by assessing BMD from lateral-projection scans, as these might better approximate the objective of measuring the trabecular-rich bone in the vertebral body, compared to the commonly-used posterior-anterior (PA) projections.

Measurement of subregional vertebral bone mineral density in vitro using lateral projection dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry: validation with peripheral quantitative computed tomography.

Although a strong relationship exists between areal bone mineral density (aBMD) derived from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bone strength, the predictive validity of aBMD for osteoporotic vertebral fractures remains suboptimal. The diagnostic sensitivity of DXA may be improved by assessing aBMD within vertebral subregions, rather than relying on an estimate derived from the total area of the vertebra. The objective of this study was to validate a method of measuring subregional vertebral aBMD in vitro using lateral-projection DXA against subregional volumetric BMD (vBMD) measured with peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT).

Novel assessment of subregional bone mineral density using DXA and pQCT and subregional microarchitecture using micro-CT in whole human vertebrae: applications, methods, and correspondence between technologies.

In the clinical environment dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the current tool of first choice for assessing and monitoring skeletal integrity. A major drawback of standard DXA is that the bone mineral density (BMD) data cannot be used with certainty to predict who will sustain a vertebral fracture. However, measurement of BMD within vertebral subregions, instead of relying on a gross estimate of vertebral BMD, may improve diagnostic sensitivity.

Adverse effects of valproate on bone: defining a model to investigate the pathophysiology.

Purpose: Bone disease and fractures are common with chronic antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize adverse bone effects of valproate and to identify mouse strains either resistant or sensitive to these effects.

Methods: Seven mouse strains (n = 40/strain; 10/diet) were screened for the effect of chronic (8 weeks) valproate treatment (0, 2, 4, and 6 g/kg food) on total bone mineral content (BMC, by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry).

In vivo quantification of fat content in mice using the Hologic QDR 4500A densitometer.

Purpose: Validation of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) with the Hologic QDR 4500A (QDR 4500) Fan Beam X-ray densitometer for in vivo assessment of body fat content in mice.

Methods: Precision of DXA fat measurement was assessed by repeated in vivo scanning and re-positioning of different sized mice (17.6, 24.

In vivo intrarater and interrater precision of measuring apparent bone mineral density in vertebral subregions using supine lateral dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Analysis of apparent bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine is commonly based on anteroposterior (AP) scanning using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Although not widely used, clinically important information can also be derived from lateral scanning. Vertebral bone density, and therefore strength, can may vary in different subregions of the vertebral body.