[Early spinal bone loss in Klinefelter syndrome. X-ray computed tomographic evaluation in 16 cases].

The lumbar spine bone density (BMD) was assessed by single energy quantitative tomography in 16 young patients with non traited Klinefelter's syndrome (19 +/- 2.2 yr) and in 16 age weight- and height-matched control males. The BMD were significantly lower in the patients than in the control group (175 +/- 26 mg/cm3 K2HPO4 vs 204 +/- 26; p < 0.02). The authors found a significant correlation between BMD and plasmatic levels of testosterone and estradiol suggesting the hormonal origin of the osteopenia whereas no correlation was found with serum calcium, phosphorus or prolactin levels or hydroxy-proteinuria. Such osteopenia in young patients with Klinefelter's syndrome supports early androgenic treatment of these patients.