and osteomalacia

Chapter 59 Osteoporosis and osteomalacia




Osteoporosis and osteomalacia are common conditions. Osteoporosis is a decrease in the mass of bone in the presence of normal mineralization, whereas osteomalacia is deficient mineralization of bone (Fig. 3.59.1).





Osteoporosis


Bone is constantly being remodelled by osteoblasts producing new bone and osteoclasts breaking it down. The pathogenesis of osteoporosis is an increase in bone resorption by osteoclasts over bone formation by osteoblasts.



Aetiology


There are many causes of osteoporosis, including disuse, loss of bone mass with age, increased circulating corticosteroids, hyperthyroidism, acromegaly, chronic renal failure, chronic liver failure, malnutrition and malabsorption. The first three of these account for the great majority of cases and are discussed below.



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Jul 3, 2016 | Posted by in MUSCULOSKELETAL MEDICINE | Comments Off on and osteomalacia

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