Bone Abstracts

For many years obesity has been considered to be protective against fragility fractures, since low BMI contributes to fracture risk. However, recent studies indicate that obese women represent a subset of patients with low-trauma fractures. In fact, obesity increases the risk of fracture at specific sites such as ankle, upper and lower leg and predictably, proximal humerus. By contrast, wrist, hip and pelvis fracture rates are lower in obese women. Interestingly, the majority ...

Bone turnover markers (BTMs) are particularly useful in the early monitoring of the effectiveness of anabolic and antiresorptive therapy in osteoporosis and may help in the assessment of treatment compliance. How and when BTM levels change under antiresorptive or anabolic drugs is a key factor in assessing response to therapy. Thus, changes in BTM levels depend on the dose of the drug and the route of administration, and particularly on the mechanism of action. In this sense, ...

Introduction: Liver transplant candidates have bone and mineral metabolism disorders that may influence the development of fractures after liver transplantation (LT).Objective: To analyze the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) in patient candidates for LT and the factors associated with vitamin D deficiency.Methods: Between January 2010 and May 2012, 116 liver transplant candidates (85 male and 31 female patients) were include...

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a common complication in patients with chronic cholestasis, usually characterized by reduced bone formation. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) improves differentiation and mineralization and counteracts the damaging effects of bilirubin and lithocholic acid (LCA) in osteoblastic cells. Moreover, UDCA decreases apoptosis in a number of cell lines, but this antiapoptotic effect has not been investigated in bone cells.Aims: To assess...

Wnt–β-catenin signalling and its antagonists (sclerostin and Dkk-1) play an important role in the regulation of bone mass and osteoblastogenesis. Glucocorticoid therapy (GCCT) is a well known factor related to decreased bone formation and osteoporosis development. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of GCCT on Wnt signalling antagonists (sclerostin and Dkk-1) and their relationship to bone mass and bone turnover.Methods: 22 patients (11M/11F, age...

We recently observed an increased risk for vertebral fractures (VF) in a randomized controlled trial comparing the analgesic effect of vertebroplasty (VP) vs conservative treatment (CT) in symptomatic VF. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the risk factors related to the development of VF after VP in these patients.Methods and results: We evaluated risk factors including age, gender, bone mineral density, the number, type and severity of verteb...

Low bone formation is considered to be the main feature in osteoporosis associated with cholestatic and end-stage liver diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated the deleterious consequences of retained substances such as lithocholic acid (LCA) and bilirubin (Bil) on osteoblastic cells. These effects are neutralized by ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). To gain new insights into cholestatic-induced osteoporosis, we have assessed the differential gene expression of osteoblastic ce...

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has been associated with a marked increase in bone loss. This study analysed the effect of Wnt signalling antagonists (sclerostin and DKK-1) and their relationship with bone turnover markers and BMD evolution in patients with a recent SCI.Methods: Patients with a recent complete motor SCI (AIS A or B); (<6 months) were prospectively included. Bone turnover markers (bone formation: P1NP, bone AP; bone resorption: sCTx), Wnt an...

Background and aims: Low bone formation is the main pathogenic mechanism of osteoporosis in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Sclerostin, an inhibitor of the Wnt pathway, is involved in the regulation of osteoblastogenesis and little is known about its role in the development of bone disease in PBC. Thus, we evaluated the circulating levels of sclerostin and its relationship to bone mass, the parameters of mineral metabolism and liver disease severity.Met...

In a recent randomized controlled trial comparing vertebroplasty (VP) vs conservative treatment (CT) in patients with symptomatic vertebral fractures (VF) we observed the development of severe chronic back pain (CBP) in nearly one quarter of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors related to the development of CBP in these subjects.Methods: We evaluated risk factors including: visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline and during the ...