title: Acromegalic osteopathy.
abstract: Acromegalic osteopathy is an emerging complication of acromegaly characterized by increase in bone turnover, deterioration in bone microarchitecture and high risk of vertebral fractures. Vertebral fractures, as diagnosed by a radiological and morphometric approach, occur in about one-third of acromegaly patients in close relationship with duration of active disease. However, the prediction of vertebral fractures in this clinical setting is still a matter of uncertainty, since the pathogenesis of acromegalic osteopathy is multifactorial and fractures may occur even in presence of normal bone mineral density. In this narrative article, we summarize the pathophysiology and clinical aspects of acromegalic osteopathy.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Endocrinology, University of Brescia, Via Biseo, 17, 25123, Brescia, Italy.|Endocrinology Unit, ASST Carlo Poma of Mantua, Mantua, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazziotti
authors.affiliation: Chair of Endocrinology, University of Brescia, Via Biseo, 17, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maffezzoni
authors.affiliation: Chair of Endocrinology, University of Brescia, Via Biseo, 17, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frara
authors.affiliation: Chair of Endocrinology, University of Brescia, Via Biseo, 17, 25123, Brescia, Italy. a.giustina@libero.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giustina
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
keywords: Acromegaly; Fractures; Growth hormone; IGF-I; Osteoporosis