Children with severe Cerebral Palsy have poor bone mineralization

A study was conducted by researchers to describe bone health and associated factors in children with severe cerebral palsy.

In a retrospective, single-centre study, the  researchers performed a comprehensive bone evaluation (including clinical, densitometric and bone biomarker assessments) of children with severe cerebral palsy.

Results:

In the  research, None of the 19 included children had a normal BMCTBLH Z score, and only one had a BMDTBLH Z score greater than −2. Six children had a BMDLS Z score greater than −2. The bone biomarker data were suggestive of excessive bone remodelling. Levels of bone remodelling markers factors and densitometric variables were not significantly related. Further Age, weight and pubertal stage were significantly related to bone mass.

The results highlights the insufficient increase in bone mass with age (probably due to excessive bone remodelling) and confirms the high prevalence of low bone mineral density in children with severe cerebral palsy. Possible preventive measures might include calcium + vitamin D supplementation and the systematic management of underweight and delayed puberty. Bone remodelling markers might be of value for follow-up.

An insufficient increase in bone mass was seen with age and high prevalence of low bone mineral densityBone biomarker data indicated excessive bone remodelling; weight and pubertal stage were also related to bone mass

Reference:

Barbier V, Goeb V, Gouron R, Fritot S, Mentaverri R, Klein C. Bone health in children with severe cerebral palsy. Front Pediatr. 2023 Nov 29;11:1264111. doi: 10.3389/fped.2023.1264111. PMID: 38094189; PMCID: PMC10716435.

Keywords:

Children, severe, Cerebral Palsy, more, likely, have, poor, bone, mineralization, Barbier V, Goeb V, Gouron R, Fritot S, Mentaverri R, Klein C, Frontiers in Pediatrics