Metabolic Bone Disease

Question 1

What is Renal Osteodystrophy?

Answer 1

• A spectrum of disease seen in patients with chronic renal disease
• characterized by bone mineralization deficiency due to electrolyte and endocrine abnormalities
• common cause of hypocalcemia

Question 2

What is the pathophysiology of renal osteodystrophy?

Answer 2

• hypocalcemia
• hyperparathyroidism and secondary hyperphosphatemia
• uremia related to phosphate retention

Question 3

Why is there hypocalcemia in renal osteodystrophy?

Answer 3

Hypocalcemia occurs:

• due to the inability of the damaged kidney to convert vitamin D3 to calcitrol (the active form of Vit D)
• because of phosphate retention (hyperphosphatemia)