Biochemistry Flashcards
What is osteoporosis?
Bone defect caused by reduced bone mineral density and increased porosity
What is osteopenia?
Not quite osteoporosis yet.
At what age does loss of bone mineral density occur?
Age 30 in females
What is type 1 primary osteoporosis?
Post-menopausal osteoporosis.
What is type 2 primary osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis of old age.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
DEXA
What is the supportive treatment for osteoporosis?
Calcium and vit D supplements
Weight bearing exercise
Why is HRT not a good first line agent for prevention of post-menopausal osteoporosis?
Increased breast Ca risk and DVT risk
What is osteomalacia?
Abnormal bone softening due to deficient osteoid mineralisation
What is the principal cause of osteomalacia and rickets?
Insufficient calcium absorption.
What drug can acuse osteomalacia?
Carbamazepine
Anti-convulsant
What are other symptoms of rickets, apart from bone deformities?
muscle cramps
fatigue
brittle nails
^^ all hypocalcaemia symptoms
What is hyperparathyroidism?
Overactivity of the parathyroid glands.
High PTH
What causes primary hyperparathyroidism?
Benign adenoma or hyperplasia
What causes secondary hyperparathyroidism?
Physiological overproduction of PTH, secondary to hypocalcaemia caused by vit D deficiency
True or False
Hyperparathyroidism causes osteomalacia
False.
Can cause osteoporosis.
What is the definition of osteoporosis?
Bone mineral density less than 2.5 standard deviations below mean value of adults of same sex and race
What is the most serious complication of osteoporosis?
Hip fractures
What is the definition of osteopenia?
T score between 1 and 2.5 standard deviations away from normal.
True or False
Smoking plays no role in the development in osteoporosis
False.
Which rheumatological conditions can cause secondary osteoporosis?
RA
AS
SLE
What drugs can cause secondary osteoporosis?
Steroids
thyroxine
Long term heparin
What does DEXA stand for?
Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry
What class of drug is first line for osteoporosis?
Bisphosphonates
What medication and in what dosage is given daily for osteoporosis?
Alendronate 10mg
