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Tibial quantitative ultrasound compared to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in preterm infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 43, pages 642–646 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

The gold standard for diagnosing metabolic bone disease in pediatrics is dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Bone quantitative ultrasound (QUS) has increasing applications. This study compared the relationship of DXA to QUS in preterm infants.

Design

Prospective observational study of preterm infants ≤32 weeks gestation or ≤1800 grams at birth. DXA scans measuring bone mineral content (BMC) and tibial QUS scans measuring bone speed of sound (SOS) were obtained near term gestation.

Results

41 infants had bone scans at mean corrected gestation 37.7 ± 2.1 weeks. BMC and SOS showed weak inverse correlation (R2 0.163, p < 0.01). BMC and SOS correlated with parameters at corrected gestational age at the time of the bone scans (p < 0.05–0.001). SOS correlated with birth gestational age (p < 0.001), not BMC.

Conclusions

A statistically significant weak inverse correlation between DXA and QUS was observed. QUS may have advantages over DXA.

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Fig. 1: DXA Related to Age and Weight Parameters.
Fig. 2: QUS Related to Age and Weight Parameters.
Fig. 3: QUS Compared to DXA.

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Data availability

Available upon request with permission from the involved Institutional Review Board.

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Acknowledgements

Special acknowledgements are given the patients and families that participated in this study. This study was supported by Intermountain Healthcare, the University of Utah Division of Neonatology, Clinical & Translational Science Institute, and Data Coordinating Center. Acknowledgement is also extended to the late Gary Chan, MD who contributed to the study conception and design. No funding was secured for this study.

Author contributions

No outside honorarium, grant, or other form of payment was provided to anyone to produce the manuscript. The University of Utah Clinical and Translation Science Institute supported this project (UL1TR002538 NCATS/NIH). AT, SMJ, and BY contributed to the study design, data analysis, and authorship. MG and MM contributed to study design and authorship. KWL contributed to study execution, data collection, and study completion-related tasks. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Funding

The authors have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Ariel Tarrell, Bradley A. Yoder & Sabrina Malone Jenkins

  2. Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Matthew Grinsell

  3. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Mary Murray

  4. Intermountain Healthcare, Women and Newborn Clinical Program, Murray, UT, USA

    Kimberlee Weaver Lewis

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  1. Ariel Tarrell
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Correspondence to Ariel Tarrell.

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Tarrell, A., Grinsell, M., Murray, M. et al. Tibial quantitative ultrasound compared to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in preterm infants. J Perinatol 43, 642–646 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-022-01588-y

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