Musc 3 - The biochemistry of metabolic bone disease Flashcards
What are the 3 ways in which MBDs cause changes in bone density and strength
- Increase bone resorption
- Decrease bone formation
- Alter bone structure
What are the biochemical investigations performed in bone disease?
Ca, corrected Ca (albumin), phosphate, alkaline phosphatase - all to measure bone profile
Creatinine to measure renal function
Parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (for parathyroid)
Ca/Po3 in urine
Biochemical changes in osteoporosis
Bone formation: H/N
Bone resorption: HH
Biochemical changes in osteomalacia
Ca: N/L
Phosphate: L
Alkaline phosphatase: H
Biochemical changes in Pagets
Ca: N/(H)
Alkaline Phosphatase: HHH (but Phosphate is normal)
Bone formation: HH
Biochemical changes in primary hyperparathyroidism
Ca: H
Phosphate: N/L
Alkaline phosphatase: N/H
Bone resorption: HH
Biochemical changes in renal osteodystrophy
Ca: L/N
Phosphate: H
Alkaline phosphatase: H
Biochemical changes in metastases
Ca: H
Phosphate: H
Alkaline phosphatase: H
Bone resorption: H
What is the general formula for hydroxyapatite
Just learn this by googling
How is cancellous/trabecular/spongy bone metabolically active?
- Remodelling
2. Continuous exchange of ECF with bone reserve
What is the formula for corrected calcium?
Corrected calcium = (Ca conc) + 0.02(45-(albumin conc))
This compensates for protein levels
Serum calcium is a measure of TOTAL calcium which includes?
- Free Ca - the active form
- Complexed - to Phosphate and citrate
- Protein bound to albumin
When do problems with the corrected calcium score occur?
When there is acid base disturbance -
hyperventilation causes alkalosis - which causes Ca to bind to protein - hence free Ca drops - causes tingling
(Venous stasis may also falsely elevate levels)
What is the ratio of protein bound: free: complexed Ca?
Protein bound = 46%
Free: 47%
Complexed: 7%
If plasma Ca drops - PTH secreted very quickly. What effects does PTH have?
PTH acts on 2 systems:
- Bone -
- acute release of available Ca not in hydroxyapatite crystals
- more long-term increase in osteoclast activity to reabsorb bone - Kidney -
- increased Ca reabsorption in DCT (only place where Ca absorption is under hormonal control)
- Increased Phosphate excretion (through inhibition of NAP cotransporter in PCT)
- Stimulates 1-alpha-hydroxylase activity -> increasing Vit D production (increased calcitriol) -> increased gut reabsorption of Ca. Also decreased 24-hydroxylase activity
Name 4 material properties of bone that makes it strong?
- Cross-linking
- Woven bone or lamellar bone? (Woven = disorganised bone where lamellae not organised along stress lines
- Mineralisation - greater mineralisation as bone ages (Vit D deficiency reduces this)
- Microcracks - stresses in mortal lines due to exercise
2 examples of woven bone is more prominent (where lamellae are not organised along the stress line
- Acute haling
2. Pagets
What are the aspects that make bone strong
- Mass
- Material properties
- Microarchitecture - relevant in trabecular bone
- Macroarchitecture - genetic
Describe changes in bone mass as we age
Peak bone mass in mid-20s, this mass is stable till 40. Men have a slower decrease in bone mass
What can cause cortical thickening
Exercise - it also causes change in trabecular volumetric BMD
Bone has a structure to absorb energy. What does irreversible plastic deformation lead to?
Microfractures - they help to dissipate the excess energy
What happens if microfractures accumulate?
Bone strength is compromised
What does each osteon represent
A previous remodelling event - bone remodelling is where micro fracture areas are repaired
How is bone remodelling activated?
Microcracks cross canaliculi - this cuts the osteocyte processing - causing osteocyte apoptosis
This signals surface-lining cells + other osteocytes to release local factors - attracting cells from blood and marrow into remodelling compartment
Resorption phase - osteoclasts generated locally and resorb matrix and microcrack. Osteoblasts then deposit new lamellar bone.
What do osteoblasts that are trapped in the matrix become?
They become osteocytes - some osteoblasts die, some form new flattened osteoblast lining ells
Which type of bone has a large blood supply with a large SA?
Trabecular bone
Where is Ca lost and where is it gained?
Lost in kidneys
Gained in GIT