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Osteoporosis
From the Greek osteon meaning bone, porosis is porous, therefore meaning porous bones. The increased porosity with thinning of the bone trabeculae results in structural weakness of the bones and propensity to fractures. This condition is in large part secondary to the onset of the menopause and aging in women. In men, the three commonest conditions leading to osteoporosis are hypogonadism (low sex steroids), alcoholism, and chronic corticosteroid therapy.
The technical definitions of osteoporosis are:
- “A systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures”. International Consensus Definition 1993 (Am J Med 1993; 94: 646-)
- “A skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing to an increased risk of fracture. Bone strength reflects the integration of two main features: bone density and bone quality”. National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Panel 2001 (JAMA 2001; 285: 75)
Osteomalacia
A disease characterized by softening of the bones and bending with varying bone pain. It is due to failure of bone mineralization in many instances due to disturbances in the vitamin D axis, or to low serum phosphate levels.
Hyperparathyroidism
A condition due to an increased secretion of parathyroid glands resulting in elevated serum calcium level, increased risk for kidney stones and bone demineralization.
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