Metabolic Bone Disease: Biochemistry Flashcards
what is metabolic bone disease?
a group of diseases that cause a change in bone density and bone strength by:
o Increasing bone reabsorption.
o Decreasing bone formation.
o Altering bone structure (and may be associated with disturbances in mineral metabolism).
what are the 5 common MBDs?
primary hyperparathyroidism rickets/osteomalacia osteoporosis Paget's Disease renal osteodystrophy
what are the general metabolic symptoms of MBDs?
hypo-/hypercalcaemia
hypo-/hyperphosphataemia
what are the general bone symptoms of MBDs?
bone pain
deformity
fractures
what does metabolic activity of the bone include?
Cancellous bone is metabolically active with 5% remodelling at any one time (total skeleton over 7 years).
There is also a continuous exchange of ECF with the bone fluid reserve.
what factors make bone strong?
- mass
- material properties e.g. cross-linked collagen
- microarchitecture e.g. trabecular thickness
- microarchitecture e.g. hip axis length
how can the structure and function of bone be assessed?
- bone histology
- biochemical tests
- bone mineral densitometry
- radiology
at what age do men and women start losing bone after the consolidation stage?
42
Why do women pass the fracture threshold?
menopause
men will never go below the fracture threshold
what is the sexual dimorphism in bone growth ?
male bone growth is appositional while in women new bone forms inside the bone marrow
why does constant bone remodelling occur?
they are cracks that occur frequently between the osteons
how are osteoclasts and osteoblasts involved in repairing micro-fractures?
- Osteoclasts reabsorb damage.
- Osteoblasts lay down new bone.
- Osteoblasts absorbed in laying down bone, act as mechanoreceptors for future fractures.
what origin do osteoclasts have?
haematopoietic (therefore last weeks)
what origin do osteoblasts have?
stem cells (therefore last months)
what are the biochemical investigations that can be done for primary hyperparathyroidism?
serum:
o Bone profile – calcium, corrected calcium (albumin), phosphate, ALP.
o Renal function – creatinine, PTH, 25-OH VitD (liver product)
urine:
o Calcium/Phosphate, NTX.
what does corrected calcium consider?
the calcium bound to albumin
correct ca= [ca]+0.02(45-[albumin])
when is calcium forced to bind to albumin?
blood alkalosis
- hyperventilating patient will have alkaline blood and therefore less free calcium
basic information about PTH
o 84aa peptide – only N1-34 are active.
o Mg2+-dependant.
o T1/2 = 8 minutes.
o PTH receptor is activated by PTHrP.
how does the parathyroid gland monitor serum calcium concentration?
via calcium-sensing receptor
what is the PTH/Ca2+ suppression mechanism like?
there is a baseline secretion of PTH at all times even at high calcium levels
a set point is the point of half-maximal suppression of PTH enabling small changes in calcium to precipitate large PTH changes
what effect that PTH have on the kidneys?
drives calcium absorption in the DCT of the kidney via TRPV5
what is the effect of PTH on the bone?
bone reabsorption via the RANK system
What are the main causes of primary hyperparathyroidism?
o Parathyroid adenoma (80% normally just one gland)
o Parathyroid hyperplasia (20%
o Parathyroid cancer (<1%)
o Familial syndromes (MEN1= 2%, all 4 glands may be affected in MEN1)
(MEN 2A, HPT-JT rare-phaeochromocytomas, adenomas in glands)
what is the biochemical diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism?
elevated total/ionised calcium with PTH levels frankly elevated or in the upper normal range (still not physiologically normal)
what are the clinical features of primary hyperparathyroidism?
hypercalcaemia
- stones: Renal colic –>Nephrocalcinosis –>CRF.
- bones
- abdominal groans: Dyspepsia, pancreatitis, constipation, nausea, anorexia.
- psychic moans: Depression, impaired concentration, coma.