[Aetiologic features of osteoporosis in male patients aged less than 50 years: study of 28 cases with a comparative series of 30 patients over the age of 50].
OBJECTIVE
To study the aetiologic factors of osteoporosis (OP) in young male patients, we conducted a retrospective study of male osteoporosis observed in our department during the past 20 years.


METHODS
Patients included in the study were over 16 years of age and had a fracture or a decreased bone mineral density with a T score (assessed at the spine or at the spine and femoral neck) below -2.5 SD. The age and circumstances of diagnosis, serum and 24-hour urinary calcium and phosphorus investigations, hormonal measurements (including parathyroid hormone, thyroid hormones, cortisol and testosterone), bone biopsy and the final diagnosis were analyzed.


RESULTS
One hundred and nineteen patients responded to the defined diagnosis criteria. Twenty-eight were less than 50 years of age (group I or young male osteoporosis). Data were compared with those of 30 patients more than 50 years of age (group II). In group I, an aetiology was found in 17 out of 28 cases (60.7%) (secondary osteoporosis: OP II), while 11 out of 28 patients (39.3%) had primary or idiopathic osteoporosis (OP I). In group II, the frequency of OP I was 19 out of 30 cases (63.3%) and 11 out of 30 patients (36.6%) had OP II. However, the frequency of OP II did not differ significantly between the two groups (P = 0.11). The aetiology in group I was either hypogonadism (6 out of 17), alcoholism (2 out of 17), mastocytosis (2 out of 17), primary biliary cirrhosis (1 out of 17), osteogenesis imperfecta (1 out of 17), idiopathic hypercalciuria (1 out of 17), corticosteroid treatment (1 out of 17) or ankylosing spondylitis (1 out of 17). Multiple causes were found in 5 out of 17 cases. The causes of osteoporosis in group II included hypogonadism (2 out of 11), alcoholism (2 out of 11), idiopathic hypercalciuria (2 out of 11), glucocorticosteroid therapy (6 out of 11) and rheumatoid arthritis (1 out of 11).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results were compared to those of the various series reported in the literature which, though focusing on male osteoporosis, often included elderly patients. To determine whether osteoporosis in young male is more often OP II, further prospective studies are required.
Service de rhumatologie, CHU, Hôpital Jean-Minjoz, Besançon, France.
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Toussirot
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Royet
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Wendling
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
Aspects étiologiques de l'ostéoporose masculine avant 50 ans: étude de 28 cas comparés à 30 cas âgés de plus de 50 ans.