Ultrasonographic bone velocity in pregnancy: a longitudinal study.

Abstract

Longitudinal changes in bone mass were evaluated with use of ultrasonography and bone remodeling markers in 40 normal pregnant women in relation to their calcium intake. The study took place at the University of Alcalá Hospital in Madrid. Biochemical markers of bone remodeling and ultrasonographic bone propagation velocity in the proximal phalanxes of fingers 2 to 5 were measured in all three trimesters of pregnancy. Wilcoxon, unpaired and paired t tests, and analysis of variance were used. Ultrasonographic bone propagation velocity (meters per second) was lower in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (p < 0.0001) compared with the respective preceding trimesters and in the third trimester in the overall group of pregnant women. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase levels increased significantly (p < 0.0001) in parallel with the ultrasonographic bone propagation velocity decrease. Gestation was accompanied by a reduction in ultrasonographic bone propagation velocity that was greater in women with low calcium intake.