Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis: a case-control study.

The etiology and underlying mechanisms of pregnancy-associated osteoporosis (PAO) are still unknown, since no systematic analyses exist. Our results indicate that PAO is a heterogeneous, rare but severe disease including a substantial number of fractures with a significant delay from first symptom to diagnose. INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis (PAO) is a rare but severe type of premenopausal osteoporosis. Most common symptom includes acute lower back pain due to vertebral fracture predominantly occurring in the last trimester of pregnancy or immediately postpartum. The exact underlining mechanisms and risk factors of PAO are still unknown, and up to date, there are no published systematic analyses. METHODS: We identified 102 PAO patients and matched them with 102 healthy controls according to age, region, and gravidity to evaluate risk factors in a large and homogenous population of women. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics and anthropometric data of the two study groups were similar. Eighty-eight percent of the patients with PAO suffered from one or more fractures with a mean of 3.3 fractures per patient. The most common fracture site was the thoracolumbar spine, whereas 29, 37, 48, and 35% of the patients reported fractures at TH11, TH12, L1, and L2, respectively. PAO patients suffered more frequently from excessive dental problems in childhood (p < 0.001). The control group performed significantly more frequently sports both before (p < 0.002) and after puberty (p < 0.01). Compared to the controls, the patients with PAO reported twice as often severe diseases during pregnancy (p < 0.029). Hereby, the frequency of immobilization was twice as often in the PAO group compared to that in the control group (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that PAO is a heterogeneous, rare but severe disease including a substantial number of fractures with a significant delay from first symptom to diagnose. Increased awareness is warranted to immediately start effective treatment.

Quantitative ultrasonometry during pregnancy and lactation: a longitudinal study.

UNLABELLED: This study describes bone mass changes during pregnancy and lactation measured by a special ultrasound method. Pregnant women showed a decrease of bone mass followed by a stable bone mass while breast-feeding afterwards. Later in life, there is a recovery of bone mass loss. INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate bone changes during pregnancy using the radiation-free method of quantitative ultrasonometry (QUS). METHODS: One hundred twenty-five pregnant women who underwent prenatal care were included in this study. Ultrasound measurement of the calcaneus was performed in each trimester and then 6 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year postpartum. The calcaneal QUS measurements were carried out using the Achilles plus device (GE/Lunar Corporation, Madison, WI). Three ultrasound variables were measured: speed of sound (SOS, m/s), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA, dB/MHz), and the "stiffness index" (expressed as the percentage of the mean value in young adults). SOS and BUA raw data result in the t-score and z-score. RESULTS: A complete panel of six measurements was acquired over the time period in 101 patients (80.8%). Forty-two percent of the included patients were primipara, while 58% had given birth to at least one child (47%) previously. There was a statistically significant change of the t-score (tv = 2.14, p = 0.035) and the stiffness index (tv = 2.46, p = 0.016) from the second to the third trimester, followed by a plateau during lactation. Interestingly, the t-score remained stable during lactation, regardless of the duration of lactation (<3 months, 3-6 months, and >6 months). CONCLUSIONS: Young primiparas who had a sedentary adolescence were at the highest risk of bone loss during pregnancy. Bone loss that occurred during pregnancy was typically recovered later on, based on unknown molecular and biochemical mechanisms that must be elucidated with further studies.

Pelvic exenteration for recurrent or advanced gynecologic malignancies - Analysis of outcome and complications.

Pelvic exenterations are known to be a last resort therapeutic option for advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancies, which are known to have poor prognosis. All women treated with anterior (APE) or total (TPE) pelvic exenteration at our University hospital within a five-year period were identified and their data retrospectively analysed. Parameters such as demographic information, tumor type and stage, previous therapy as well as complication rate and overall survival were evaluated. 47 women were enrolled in this study. Most common indication for PE was cervical cancer (51.1%) followed by carcinoma of the vagina (17%), vulva (10.6%), endometrium (8.5%), ovaries (4.3%) and uterus (2.1%). Patients had received 1, 2 or 3 treatment modalities prior in 12.8%, 38.8% and 21.2% respectively. Predominant urinary diversion was ileum conduit (75.5%). Major complications (Clavien Dindo ≥ III) were observed in 40.4%, none in 19.2%. Early mortality was 4.3%. Median Overall Survival (mOS) was 14 months with 2- and 3-year survival rates of 38.8% and 21.2% respectively. After a median follow up of 47 months, 25.5% were still alive. Excluding patients with metastatic disease (n = 10), mOS was 20.6 months with 2- and 3-year survival rates of 46% and 35.2%. OS was significantly worse for patients with positive margins (p = 0.003). Receiving neoadjuvant treatment (25.5%) correlated with negative margins (p = 0.013) but not with overall survival. PE is feasible with acceptable complication and mortality rates. The long-time benefit is notable bearing in mind the extensive nature of the malignancies and the procedure undertaken.

Effect of testosterone, raloxifene and estrogen replacement on the microstructure and biomechanics of metaphyseal osteoporotic bones in orchiectomized male rats.

INTRODUCTION: Currently, osteoporosis research is rarely undertaken in males but an increase in male life expectancy in the company of hypogonadism suggests the necessity for potential therapeutic options. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the changes in bone structure under standardized testosterone- (T), raloxifene- (R) and estrogen (E)-supplemented diets were analyzed in osteoporotic castrated male rats. RESULTS: Unexpected biomechanical results could be only explained by the histomorphometry, but not by BMD measurements obtained from the qCT. All tested substances showed a significant improvement in the trabecular network (trabecular bone area for C: 2.55 mm(2), T: 4.25 mm(2), R: 4.22 mm(2) and E: 4.28 mm(2)), and suggests that the bone structure was preserved. For the metaphyseal cortical bone, a significant loss was detected in T (CBP: 18.7%) compared to R (CBP: 30.0%), E (CBP: 26.8%) and even to the osteoporotic control (CBP: 28.6%). This explains the observed early mechanical final failure after T supplementation. However, due to the preserved trabecular bone in T, the occurrence of the first microfractures (yL: 49 +/- 21.4 N) was significantly later than in the osteoporotic control (yL: 39.5 +/- 15.5 N). Raloxifene performed well in hindering the bone loss associated with osteoporosis. However, its effect (yL: 83.3 +/- 16.5 N) did not approach the protective effect of E (yL: 99.2 +/- 21.1 N). CONCLUSION: Testosterone only preserved the deterioration of the trabecular bone but not of the cortical bone. Raloxifene prevented the bone loss associated with osteoporosis at all bony structures. This effect did not approach the protective effect of estrogen on trabecular bone, but it is more suitable for male individuals because it has no feminizing effects on the subject.