Dual-Energy X - Rayabsorptiometry (Dxa) Assessment of Body Composition and Body Fat Distribution in Cushing’s Women

Abstract Introduction. Body composition and body fat distribution show difference in women with Cushing's syndrome (CS) compared to healthy control women (C) with almost equal body mass index (BMI) (28.89±3.53kg/m2 vs. 29.39±4.04kg/m2) and they were compared with DXA. Methods. Total and regional fat mass (FM), FM%, tissue mass (TM), TM%, android FM (A), gynoid FM (G), lean body mass (LBM), bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) were determined as well as their relationships in 10 CS and 10 C women. Results. Regional FM, FM%, TM and TM% values were not different between CS and C except for arm TM % (45.06±3.1% vs. 40.23±6.29%) (p<0.043). Arms+legs/trunk TM and FM ratio were significantly lower in CS compared to C (p<0.0001). Arms/A (1.1±0.12), legs/A (3±0.41) and legs/trunk TM ratios (0.52±0.07) were significantly lower in CS compared to C (1.3±0.13) (p<0.002), (4.29 ±0.67) (p<0.0001) and (0.69±0.09) (p<0.0001). Legs/A (2.57±0.73), legs/trunk (0.48±0.13) and arms+legs/trunk FM ratio (0.66±0.14) in CS were significantly lower compared to C [(4.2±1.16; 0.71±0.12 (p<0.001) and 0.89±0.14 (p<0.002)]. A/GTM (0.67±0.1) and A/G FM ratio (0.72± 0.2) in CS were significantly higher compared to C (0.48±0.05) (p<0.0001) and (0.46±0.09) (p<0.001). Legs LBM in CS 10.8±1.95kg was lower compared to C 12.7±2.1 kg (p<0.046). Only spine BMD value in CS (0.89±0.09 kg/cm2) was lower compared to C (0.94±0.12 kg/cm2) (p<0.017). Conclusion. Central to peripheral regional TM, FM and LBM ratios differentiated significantly and precisely patients with CS and C and confirmed extreme central obesity in CS.