title: Spontaneous multiple vertebral fractures revealed primary haemochromatosis.
abstract: The association of haemochromatosis and bone disease is well established, but osteoporotic fracture is an unusual presentation of the disease. We describe a male patient with osteoporotic fractures as a presenting feature of haemochromatosis. The bone histomorphometry showed a dramatic decrease in trabecular bone volume associated with a decrease in cortical bone thickness. Osteoblastic and osteoclastic activities were reduced without any sign of osteomalacia. Staining for iron with Perl's stain showed focal localization at the interface between mineralized trabecular bone and bone marrow. This observation leads us to review the possible mechanisms of osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Endocrinologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duquenne
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rohmer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Legrand
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chappard
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wion Barbot
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Basle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Audran
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bigorgne
mesh_terms: D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000150:complications; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000473:pathology; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000473:pathology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D007501:Iron