title: [Arteriosclerosis and osteoporosis].
abstract: A certain number of elements suggest a link between arteriosclerosis and osteoporosis. Generally, osteoporosis in women is considered to result from altered secretion of sexual hormones after menopause and in elderly subjects from hyperparathyroidism secondary to calcium and vitamin D deficiency. As for the heart, the brain, the kidney or muscle, bone tissue could also be altered by vascular aging and arteriosclerosis. Large epidemiological studies have demonstrated a relationship between bone mineral density, measured by monophotonic absorptiometry and mortality due to cerebral vascular events. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this relationship including lower endogenous estrogen levels and arteriosclerosis of the renal vessels favoring perturbed vitamin D metabolism. Arteriosclerosis could also have a direct effect on bone tissue via an ischemic mechanism. The pathophysiolojical mechanisms are not fully understood, but could involve hormone and cytokine-dependent bone remodeling and the complementary actions of bone tissue and the hematopoietic bone marrow functioning as an unit. Further epidemiological studies would be useful to confirm the relationship between arteriosclerosis and osteoporosis. The efficacy of vasodilator drugs on osteoporosis could be tested and histology and immunochemical studies could help in our understanding of the effect of ischemia on bone metabolism.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Laroche
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors
vernacular_title: Artériosclérose et ostéoporose.