Joseph-Médard Kabeya-Kabenkama1, Jean Mukaya Tshibola1, Michel Lelo Tshikwela1, Tozin Rahma2, Jean-Jacques Malemba3, Rene Westhovens4, Jean-Marie Mbuyi-Mwamba3 & Jan Dequeker4
- Department of Radiology, Kinshasa University School of Medicine and Hospital, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Department of Gynecology, Kinshasa University School of Medicine and Hospital, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, Kinshasa University School of Medicine and Hospital, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Department of Rheumatology, U.Z Pellenberg, Leuven, Belgium
* Joseph-Médard Kabeya-Kabenkama, E-mail: jmdkabeya@gmail.com
Received: September 15, 2017 Accepted: September 26, 2017 Online Published: October 7, 2017 doi:10.22158/rhs.v2n4p323 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/rhs.v2n4p323
Abstract
Background: Osteodensitometry, a procedure increasingly accepted by clinicians to access osteoporosis is not yet fully validated by WHO. It requires the establishment of normal values and references curves for each population, and in our community, this is not yet assessed.
The purpose of this study was twofold: to describe the profile of the speed of sound of proximal phalangeal metaphysis and establish references curves in central Africans and to compare them with those of other populations specially Caucasians.
Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out at Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa from January to December 2016.
Four hundred twenty four subjects aged from 20 to 87 years old, were explored and the speed of sound in theirs proximal phalanges measured using ultrasound equipment. Age, gender, hormonal status and speed of sound were collected and analyzed.
Results: The mean value of the amplitude dependant speed of sound (AD-SoS) showed a growth feature with age (from 2056 m/sec at second decade of life to 2145.27 m/sec at fourth decade followed by a progressive decrease which was present in both sexes but more marked in postmenopausal women (1927.06 m/sec). This mean value was higher than in Caucasian studies. In this study, age and hormonal status seems to be the bone quality most influencing anthropometric factors as seen in many series.
The curve profile with age was also a polynomial curve as seen in others populations of the world. Conclusion: This study provides normal data for phalangeal ultrasound measurements and reference curve of central Africans which were compared to those of Western studies. Keywords bone, speed of sound, black Africans, quantitative ultrasound, osteoporosis
