Causes of osteoporosis:
There are many cause of osteoporosis. Our body continuously remove old bones and form new bones. It occurs when there is a greater imbalance between the old bone resorption and new bone formation. The commonest causes of osteoporosis are postmenopausal deficiency of oestrogen and age related deterioration in bone haemostasis, but it can also result from other factors such as excessive glucocorticoids, heparin or tyroxine administration and can take place secondary to conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms of osteoporosis:
At early stage of progression, osteoporosis may not cause any symptom. Later on, it can cause light pain in the muscles and bones especially neck pain and back pain. Patient may experience sharp pain abruptly. Spinal compression fractures because of osteoporosis may result in decrease in height with a stooped posture known as dowager’s hump.
Symptoms of osteoporosis can be divided into two classes:
Early Symptoms: Usually as mentioned above there is no sing or indication. Gradually, it develops joint pain and muscle pain and leading to thinning of bones
Symptoms of advanced osteoporosis:
Thin and weak bones
Brittle bones
Fractures
Deformation of spine
Loss of height
Back pain
Treatment of osteoporosis:
Biphosphonates: They mainly inhibit mineralisation in bone. In biphosphonates, the P-O-P structure of pyrophosphate is replaces by P-C-P. They reduce resorption of bone in a dose dependent manner.
Calcitonin: It inhibits bone resorption by binding to a specific receptor on osteoclasts inhibiting their action.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): HRT restores Ca2+ balance, further bone loss is prevented and risk of fracture is nullified. However, accelerated bone loss starts soon again after the cessation of HRT.
Raloxifene: It produces a dose dependent increase in osteoblast activity and reduction in osteoclast action.
Vitamin D:
Vitamin D has been shown to improve calcium balance in osteoporotic females and elderly males. However, benefits in terms of improved bone mass or reduced fracture risk is controversial or marginal.
Calcium Salts: Calcium Salts used therapeutically, include calcium gluconate and calcium lactate, given orally. Calcium gluconate is also used for intravenous injection, intramuscular injection is not used because it causes local necrosis.