Search for hidden secondary causes in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of secondary processes in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (OP) is not well known. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of conditions contributing to bone loss in postmenopausal women with OP and to evaluate the clinical characteristics and the impact of these disorders on the severity of the disease.


METHODS
A total of 204 postmenopausal women (mean +/- SD age, 64.9 +/- 10 y) with OP were prospectively included. None had an evident secondary cause of OP. Bone mineral density assessment, spine x-ray, and laboratory tests including parathormone (PTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), thyroid hormones, urinary N-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx), and 24-hour urinary calcium and cortisol were performed in all participants before treatment.


RESULTS
As a group, 82% had low 25OHD levels (<30 ng/mL), 35% had increased PTH levels (>65 pg/mL), and 20% had hypercalciuria (>250 mg/24 h). In addition, 41% had increased NTx urinary levels (>65 nmol/mmol). PTH levels were related to age and were higher in women with femoral Z score less than -2.0 (80.3 pg/mL vs 57.7 pg/mL; P = 0.03). Participants with increased urinary NTx showed lower lumbar T and Z scores, whereas women with low 25OHD levels had lower femoral neck bone mineral density and T score values. In addition, participants with vertebral fractures had higher prevalence of 25OHD levels less than 20 ng/mL (69.2% vs 53.4%; P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Secondary processes that contribute to low bone mass in postmenopausal women with OP are frequent, especially vitamin D insufficiency, increased PTH values, and hypercalciuria. In addition, increased bone resorption is frequently observed in this group of women. Most of these processes contributed to the severity of the disease.
Cerdá Gabaroi
Dacia
D
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital General de Granollers, Granollers, Barcelona, Spain. 32318mcg@comb.es
Peris
Pilar
P
Monegal
Ana
A
Albaladejo
Carolina
C
Martínez
Ma Angels
MA
Muxí
Africa
A
Martínez de Osaba
Ma Jesús
MJ
Surís
Xavier
X
Guañabens
Núria
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000503:physiopathology; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000652:urine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053565:Hypercalciuria / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010455:Peptides / Q000652:urine; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
D024042:Collagen Type I; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010455:Peptides; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D