Recomendaciones para el uso correcto de densitometría ósea en la práctica clínica. Consenso de la Sociedad Chilena de Endocrinología y Diabetes / Guidelines of the Chilean Endocrinology Society for the correct clinical use of bone densitometry

Osteoporosis is a silent and frequent disease, which increases fracture risk. Approximately half of women and one of five men over 50 years old will suffer an osteoporotic fracture throughout their lives. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) allows a real bone mineral density (BMD) measurement in different parts of the skeleton and is considered the "gold standard" for quantifying osteoporosis with high accuracy and precision. The Board of the Chilean Society of Endocrinology and Diabetes (SOCHED) required from the Bone Disease Study Group to develop a consensus about the "Correct use of bone densitometry in clinical practice in Chilean population". Therefore, we elaborated 25 questions which addressed key aspects about the indications for a DXA scan, and the details of how to perform and report this test. Since some of the evidence obtained was of low quality or inconclusive, we decided to create a multidisciplinary group of national experts in osteoporosis to develop a consensus in this subject. The group consisted of 22 physicians including endocrinologists, gynecologists, geriatricians, radiologists, rheumatologists and nuclear medicine specialists. Using the Delphi methodology to analyze previously agreed questions, we elaborated statements that were evaluated by the experts who expressed their degree of agreement. The final report of this consensus was approved by the SOCHED board.

[Guidelines of the Chilean Endocrinology Society for the correct clinical use of bone densitometry]. / Recomendaciones para el uso correcto de densitometría ósea en la práctica clínica. Consenso de la Sociedad Chilena de Endocrinología y Diabetes.

Osteoporosis is a silent and frequent disease, which increases fracture risk. Approximately half of women and one of five men over 50 years old will suffer an osteoporotic fracture throughout their lives. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) allows a real bone mineral density (BMD) measurement in different parts of the skeleton and is considered the "gold standard" for quantifying osteoporosis with high accuracy and precision. The Board of the Chilean Society of Endocrinology and Diabetes (SOCHED) required from the Bone Disease Study Group to develop a consensus about the "Correct use of bone densitometry in clinical practice in Chilean population". Therefore, we elaborated 25 questions which addressed key aspects about the indications for a DXA scan, and the details of how to perform and report this test. Since some of the evidence obtained was of low quality or inconclusive, we decided to create a multidisciplinary group of national experts in osteoporosis to develop a consensus in this subject. The group consisted of 22 physicians including endocrinologists, gynecologists, geriatricians, radiologists, rheumatologists and nuclear medicine specialists. Using the Delphi methodology to analyze previously agreed questions, we elaborated statements that were evaluated by the experts who expressed their degree of agreement. The final report of this consensus was approved by the SOCHED board.

Osteoporosis: epidemiología, diagnóstico y tratamiento / Osteoporosis: epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment

La osteoporosis es una enfermedad caracterizada por una disminución de la masa ósea, con deterioro de la microarquitectura del hueso y con aumento del riesgo de fractura. Las fracturas osteoporóticas, especialmente de la cadera, son la consecuencia más grave de la enfermedad. Su prevalencia es alta y seguirá aumentando en todo el mundo debido a su incremento de la población de edad avanzada. Los principales responsables de las pérdidas ósea son las alteraciones del metabolismo mineral: en las mujeres, aquellas secundarias a la pérdida de la función gonadal relacionadas con la menopausia y en ambos sexos, aquellas debidas al proceso del envejecimiento. Además, son importantes algunos factores genéticos y ambientales. Actualmente se conocen con claridad los factores de riesgo de presentar esta condición, así como también se dispone de métodos diagnóstico adecuados para evaluar la masa y el metabolismo óseo. Los tratamientos actualmente en uso permiten no solamente aumentar la masa ósea sino también disminuir la tasa de fracturas

Tratamiento del hipertiroidismo con radioyodo: efecto de la dosis administrada sobre la función tiroidea y complicaciones asociadas / Treatment of hyperthyroidism with radioiodine: effects of administered dose on complications and thyroid function

Background: Radio-iodine is a definite therapy for Graves disease hyperthyroidism. However, the optimal dosage is still debatable. Aim: To assess the effects of different radioiodine doses on thyroid function and complications in patients with hyperthyroidism. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of 139 patients with hyperthyroidism, treated with ratioiodine between 1988 and 1998. Radio iodine dose used was classified as low (<10 mCi), intermediate (10-14.9 mCi) or high (ü 15 mCi). Results: Thirty five patients were treated with low doses, 33 with intermediate doses and 71 with high doses. There were no differences between these patients in age, disease severity, frequency of post treatment euthyroidism or complications. Patients treated with low doses had a higher frequency of persistent hyperthyroidism than patients treated with high doses (25.7 and 4.2 percent respectively, p<0,001). Likewise, the frequency of subsequent hypothyroidism was 60 percent in patients treated with low doses and 84.5 percent of those with high doses, in whom it also appeared earlier. Associated complications were clinically irrelevant. In seven patients, Graves ophtalmopathy progressed after treatment, but this progression was not associated with the dose used. Conclusions: Radio iodine in high doses is useful, safe and effective for the treatment of Graves hyperthyroidism

Síndrome de huesos hambrientos: experiencia clínica en su diagnóstico y tratamiento / Hungry bone syndrome: report of 4 cases

Hungry bone syndrome is a unusual complication of the postoperative period of primary hyperparathyroidism. This syndrome is characterized by hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia and hypomagnesemia, due to an excessive bone remineralization. We report the clinical features, laboratory and therapy in four females (aged 39 to 73 years old) with a long standing hyperparathyroidism, elevated alkaline phosphatases and decreased bone mineralization in two. The mean size of the adenoma was 2.9 ñ 1.1 cm. Hypocalcemia appeared between days 1 and 6 of the postoperative period. All were treated with calcium, calcitriol and magnesium at different timing and dosages. The mean hospitalization period was 19.8 ñ 2.1 days. As reported previously, low bone mineralization and a large adenoma are risk factors for the syndrome. Serial monitoring of serum calcium and magnesium and an early supplementation of these minerals could prevent hypocalcemia and decrease the hospitalization time

Osteopetrosis o enfermedad marmórea / Osteopetrosis or marmoreal disease

Se analiza la osteopetrosis como enfermedad, su clasificación, anatomía patológica, radiología y diagnóstico. Se presentaron tres casos clínicos tratados en los últimos 15 años. Se discute sobre la dificultad en el tratamiento y los intentos que están haciendo al respecto. La mejor solución seria el trasplante de médula ósea

Remisión parcial del hipercortisolismo en una enfermedad de Cushing posterior a una apoplejia hipofisiaria: caso clínico / Partial remission of Cushing disease after pituitary apoplexy: report of 1 case

ACTH secreting macroadenomas and pituitary apoplexy are unusual in Cushing disease. In the few cases reported in the literature, they have been found in long term hypercortisolism. We communicate a 43 yr old woman with a 4 year evolution Cushing syndrome, who developed sudden cephalea and oftalmoplejia. A Computed Tomography of the pituitary fossa disclosed a macroadenoma with intracapsular hemorrhage and suprasellar expansion. In the functional tests, serum cortisol was suppressed with dexamethasone in a dose of 1 and 8 mg and responded to the desmopressin stimulus. Nevertheless, cortisol levels were lower than those observed in Cushing syndrome of similar magnitude. The tumor was resected by transphenoidal surgery and immunohistochemistry to ACTH was positive. In this case, the laboratory results suggest a partial remission of the hypercortisolism after pituitary apoplexy

Osteoporosis en hombres menores de 65 años manifestada por aplastamiento vertebrales: ¿idiopática o secundaria? / Osteoporosis in men under 65 years old manifested by vertebral squashing: idiopathic or secondary?

Osteoporosis in young or middle age men is unusual and requires an extensive diagnostic work-up. To report a retrospective review of nine men with osteoporosis aged 27 to 61 years old (mean 39), that presented with primary diagnosis of osteoporosis, were reviewed. Subjects were subjected to a diagnostic work-up 5 years after the onset of symptoms. Their body mass index ranged from 21.7 to 26.3 kg-m2, all had vertebral fractures (crush fractures in 8 and a biconcave deformity in one) between T4 and L4 and all had normal serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase and cretinine. Four patients had a history of neprholithiasis and 3 had hypercalciuria. Bone density, measured in 7 patients with a dual photon densitometer, showed a mean Z score of -2.0 in the spine and -2.2 in the femoral neck. The final diagnoses of these patients were Cushing's disease in 2, malabsorption syndrome in 1, use of phenobarbital and hydantoin in 1, over renal hypercalciuria with low calcium intake in 1 and alcoholic liver disease in 1. In 3 patients, osteoporosis was considered idiopathic. Of these, 2 had moderate absorptive hypercalciuria as a presumible risk factor. Six of the 9 studied male patients with osteoporosis had an underlying cause and in three, this condition was considered idiopathic

Evaluación del compromiso óseo en alcohólicos intermitentes y continuos, sin daño hepático evidente / Assessment of bone compromised in intermitent and continuing alcoholics without hepatic damage

The effect of chronic alcoholism on bone mass and density has been a subject of considerable controversy. The goal of the present study was to evaluate bone mineral content and density in 2 groups of alcoholic men without evidence of liver damage and determine if the modality of alcohol consumption could cause an alcohol-mediated bone loss. We studied 70 alcoholic non cirrhotic men divided into intermittent (n=38) and continuos (n=32) drinkers. They were compared to 109 normal men. Dual photon densitometry technique using a Gd 153 source was utilized and bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine, femoral neck, Ward's triangle, trochanter, total body bone density (TBBD) and mineral (TBBM) were measured. Hematologic, serum and urinary tests of mineral metabolism were also carried out. No significant differences were found in lumbar spine BMD between normals and alcoholics regardless of the type of alcohol consumption and duration of alcoholism. In the femoral neck, a significant decrease in BMD was found in alcoholics when plotted as regression curves (r=25;p=0,02). In this site duration of alcoholism was significantly correlated to decreased BMD in the total group of alcoholics (r=0,27;p=0,02) and also in the continuous drinker group (r=0,40;p=0,02) when considered duration of alcohol abuse. Total bone mineral was significantly lower in alcoholics (p<0.001) and the subgroups compared to normals and correlated with duration of alcohol abuse (p=0,01). Chemical values revealed normal calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatases, PTH and Ca/Cr concentration. Only serum magnesium was found disminished in 16,6 percent of studied subjects. We conclude that pure alcoholism may affect femoral neck density and total body mineral content, being proportional to the duration of alcohol abuse. Spine density appears unaffected. The type of alcoholic abuse was less important than its duration to cause bone mass abnormalities

Osteopenia en cirrosis biliar primaria: estudio en 20 pacientes / Osteopenia in primary biliary cirrhosis: study in 20 patients

We studied 20 female patients, aged 51 ñ 13.6 years old, with the diagnosis of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) to assess osteopenia, main involved sites and its relation to menopause, some parameters of mineral metabolism and the degree of histological liver involvement. The diagnosis of PBC was based in histological, clinical and laboratory features. Bone densitometry was measured with dual-photon densitometer and compared with values of a normal female population from the laboratory. When compared to controls, studied patients had a significantly lower lumbar spine bonedensity and total bone mineral content and a non significantly lower density in femoral neck and total body. Serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, PTH and urinary calcium/creatinine ratio were within normal limits. Lumbar spine density was no significantly lower in patients with more severe liver histological involvement and in postmenopausal women. No correlation was found between the duration of postmenopausal period and the degree of osteopenia. It is concluded that patients with PBC have a clear lumbar spine osteopenia and a lower total mineral content and that these parameters worsen in a non significant fashion in subjects along with liver histological involvement and with the length of post menopausal period