4. Metabolic bone conditions (Robson) Flashcards
What is used to diagnose metabolic bone conditions?
Serum blood tests
What will serum blood test results show in osteoporosis?
The blood test results will generally show as normal
MAY be slightly low level of calcium and vitamin D
What is osteoporosis?
Reduced bone density occurring from a loss of tissue due to calcium or vitamin D deficiency
Does osteoporosis affect men or women more and why?
Affects women more - women start off with a lower bone mass in life (and then are effected by the menopause due to loss of oestrogen protection)
What is the key investigation used to assess osteoporosis and reduced bone mass?
DEXA scan - used to measure the bone mass - gives you a T or Z score
What does the T score from a DEXA scan take into account?
Number of SDs from a young individual of the same same sex and same ethnicity
What does the Z score from a DEXA scan take into account?
Number of SDs from an individual of the SAME AGE, same sex and same ethnicity
How does the Z score differ from the T score from a DEXA scan?
Z score - takes into account the age of the individual
Where is a DEXA scan used?
Scan where there is lots of trabeculae bone - top of the femur and at the vertebral bodies (especially lumbar vertebrae
What DEXA T score indicates osteoporosis?
T score below 2.5
What is osteopenia and what is this on the DEXA T score?
Reduced bone density but not as severe as osteoporosis
T score between -1 and -2.5
What is a fragility fracture?
A fracture that occurs where someone with a full bone density would not experience a fracture
E.g. a fracture from a trip and the hip bends slightly rather than an actual fall
What is indicated by a fragility fracture?
This indicates that the bones are becoming fragile and are breaking more easily than they should - should send anyone with a fragility fracture for a DEXA scan
What is the prevalence of osteoporosis?
2% at 50 years old
>25% at 80 years old
Why is trabecular bone more prone to osteoporosis?
Has a greater surface area
This type of bone is in locations that has to respond to new stresses and increased levels of mechanical stress
What is the mechanism of osteoporosis?
There is an increase in the rate of resorption of the bone which is not matched by the rate of bone formation - there is less bone
Describe the activity of the osteoclasts and osteoblasts in osteoporosis
Osteoblasts are not as active as the osteoclasts
Where are bone biopsies for osteoporosis taken and why?
Tend to be taken across the iliac crest - this shows cortical bone and trabecular bone and also bone marrow
What does osteoporotic bone look like in a biopsy?
The cortical bone will appear normal - there will be a loss of trabeculae bone centrally
What is the treatment for osteoporosis?
Non-pharmacological treatment: calcium and vitamin D supplements and 30 minutes physical activity at least three times a week
HRT - oestrogen replacement in peri-menopausal women for at least five years
Bisphosphonates
Antibodies
What level of calcium and vitamin D supplement should be provided to osteoporotic patients?
Calcium - 1500mg/day
Vitamin D - 800IU/day
What are bisphosphonates and what are their mechanism of action?
Group of drugs that are absorbed into bone when taken - become incorporated into the bone
Osteoclasts then come to the bone and take the bisphosphonates up along with the bone resorption
The bisphosphonate is taken up into the osteoclast and this promotes their apoptosis - osteoclast activity is inhibited
May also act to modulate signalling to osteoblasts and decrease their production of RANKL - this reduces the signal to osteoclasts and so they cease to proliferate and differentiate
What is the efficacy of bisphosphonates?
Reduce the risk of fragility fractures by 50%
What is the adverse effect of bisphosphonate usage?
Some osteoclasts do not clamp down on the bone that has taken up the bisphosphonate - results in the development of giant osteoclasts free floating in the bone marrow - the osteoclasts do not carry out their role of remodelling and there is necrosis of the bone due to death of osteocytes
SO: major complication is osteonecrosis
How can osteonecrosis be prevented?
Intermittent use of bisphosphonates - take the patient off of these for e.g. six months at a time - gives osteoclasts time to remodel the bone