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Bone Abstracts (2016) 5 CU1.1 | DOI: 10.1530/boneabs.5.CU1.1

Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.


Although the baby growing in its mother’s womb needs calcium for skeletal development osteoporosis and fractures very rarely occur during pregnancy. Pregnancy- and lactation-associated osteoporosis with the occurrence of fragility fractures mainly of the vertebral bodies was first described as a syndrome Nordin et al. in 1955. It is most commonly observed in the third trimester or early post-partum in women presenting with severe and prolonged back pain and sometimes height loss. The prevalence is unknown and so far about 130 case reports have been reported. The etiology is not known but a role of calciotropic hormones, such as PTHrP has been suggested. In some cases low bone mass may have been present before pregnancy and investigation for underlying causes is necessary. There are no guidelines for treatment due to the lack of controlled trials. Another form of rare pregnancy-associated osteoporosis is called transient osteoporosis of pregnancy, also usually presenting in the third trimester of pregnancy with sometimes very severe pain while walking or standing usually localized in the hip, sometimes leading to hip fracture. Radiographs or MRI show severe localized loss of bone mass and edema. This condition usually fades within a few months after birth of the child. In this presentation we describe the clinical picture of women diagnosed with osteoporosis shortly after pregnancy. Potential causes of pregnancy-associated osteoporosis and clinical consequences will be discussed as well as issues to take into account concerning patient management.

Volume 5

43rd Annual European Calcified Tissue Society Congress

Rome, Italy
14 May 2016 - 17 May 2016

European Calcified Tissue Society 

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