Osteoporosis Flashcards
What is osteoporosis?
This is the loss of bone mass due to the reduction in organic bone matrix and mineral content.
-decreased mechanical strength of the bones
-increased incidences of fractures
-more common in females as oestrogen controls the balance between osteoblast and clasts.
What do osteoclasts and osteoblasts do?
Osteoclast- degrade bone
Osteoblast- formation of bone
There is a balance of these. A balance is required.
Why are women at a higher risk of osteoporosis?
This is due to the loss of oestrogen levels this helps to maintain the balance of osteoblast and osteoclasts.
RANKL is not suppressed when a women is oestrogen deficient
What is rank L ?
Receptor activated NFkb ligand- this is a osteoclast activator.
It’s main role is to activate osteoclasts
What is OPG and what is the job?
Osteoprotegerin- this inhibits bone resorption (breakdown of bone)
Binds to rankL to stop the formation of osteoclasts.
Increased bone formation via the osteoblasts.
What pharmacological treatments are available for osteoporosis?
BISPHOSPHONATES: ANTI RESORPTIVE THERAPIES
-ORAL(Alendronic acid and risedronate)
-parental( zoledronic acid)
-RALOXIFENE AND OESTROGEN
-Denosumab ( sub injection)
Less commonly used:
-HRT ( early menopause)
BONE FORMING ANABOLIC THERAPIES:
-Calcitonin
-teriparatide
What is primary osteoporosis?
Menopause - increased bone reabsorption
Age associated - decrease in bone formation
What is secondary osteoporosis?
-Drug or disease induced.
-Malnutrition (anorexia)
-Lack of vitamin D
-Hyperparathyroidism
-Cancer
What is RANK?
Rank is the receptor activated NFkB, this is found on the surface of pre osteoclasts.
What can cause the bone to release RANK L?
Parathyroid hormone
If there is a stimulation of PTH then more RANK L to be released.
Why is oestrogen important for bone?
Oestrogen promotes the formation of osteoblasts.
Oestrogen will inhibit the T cell formation/activation thus inhibits the release of RANK L.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS AN ABSENCE OF OESTROGEN FOR BONE ?
Increased activation of T cells which can go onto promote the release of RANK L to form osteoclasts that can again promote bone reabsorption.
What does calcified bone contain?
-25% organic matrix
-5% water
-70% hydroxyapatite (holds the bone together)
Why can’t we give pyrophosphate and what would we give instead?
This is because it is hydrolysed when taken orally by the GI tract, into two phosphate groups, thus we would use a biphosphonate, e.g. alendronic acid
How does the pyrophosphate and bisphosphatonates differ in structure?
The bisphosphonate replaces the oxygen of the pyrophosphate with a carbon with two functional groups. Therefore they cannot be hydrolysed.
They bind and stabilise calcium phosphate in the bone.
What is the job of bisphosphonates?
They work like pyrophosphate, like a glue to hold the bones together.
-inhibit osteoclast proliferation
-inhibit osteoclast activity
-inhibit the malaveonate pathway of osteoclasts
THEY ALLOW OSTEOBLASTS TO FUNCTION.