[Study of bone mineral density in complete androgen insensitivity syndrome patients].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the characteristics and treatment of bone mineral density (BMD) change in complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) of Chinese patients.

METHODS

Fourteen cases of CAIS were studied retrospectively through analyzing and comparing BMD of pre- and post-orchidectomy with normal Chinese men and women. BMD at the lumbar spine and the femur were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

RESULTS

Ten cases of CAIS had pre-orchidectomy DXA, in which 6 cases had very significantly reduced L(2-4) BMD (0.92 +/- 0.08) g/cm(2) compared with normal men and women (P < 0.01). Five cases had significantly reduced femur neck BMD (0.89 +/- 0.12) g/cm(2) compared with normal male (P < 0.05). Seven cases had 12 post-orchidectomy DXA, in which all L(2-4) BMD (0.95 +/- 0.06) g/cm(2) were very significantly reduced compared with normal male and female (P < 0.01), femur neck BMD (0.91 +/- 0.08) g/cm(2) was also significantly reduced compared with normal male (P < 0.01) and normal female (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There are different degrees of osteopenia in patients of CAIS, especially in lumbar vertebra. This suggests that estrogen and androgen play important roles in the acquirement and maintenance of bone mass.