Bone Mineral after Partial Gastrectomy I

Abstract

Alhava, E. M., Aukee, S. & Karjalainen, P. Bone mineral after partial gastrectomy. I. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1974, 9, 463–466.

Fifty-five men and 15 women who had been subjected to partial gastrectomy for ulcer disease 3.3–8.5 years previously were examined to determine the bone mineral density (g/cm³) by the Americium-241 60 keV gamma ray attenuation method. A normal material consisting of coeval persons with healthy bones served as controls. Serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and total protein were determined preoperatively and at the time of determination of the mineral content. The mineral density of the patients undergoing surgery was lower than that of the controls. The difference was statistically significant in the female cases. In addition, women revealed a significant correlation between the magnitude of mineral loss and the interval between the operation and the measuring of mineral density. The average serum calcium values were higher pre- than post-operatively. In contrast, there was an increase in the average serum phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and total protein levels. The difference between the mineral densities of subjects with healthy bones and patients operated on for ulcer, and possibly the change in the serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase values may be regarded as signs of post-gastrectomy bone disease.

Key-words::

• Am-241
• bone and bones
• peptic ulcer
• stomach
• surgery