Long-term Pegvisomant Therapy of Acromegaly: Effects on Bone Density, Turnover and Microstructure Using HRpQCT.

Context: Fracture rate is increased in patients with active acromegaly and those in remission. Abnormalities of bone microstructure are present in patients with active disease and persist despite biochemical control after surgery. Effects of treatment with the GH receptor antagonist pegvisomant on bone microstructure were unknown. Methods: We studied 25 patients with acromegaly (15 men, 10 women). In 20, we evaluated areal bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and bone turnover markers (BTMs) longitudinally, before and during pegvisomant treatment. After long-term pegvisomant in 17, we cross-sectionally assessed volumetric BMD, microarchitecture, stiffness, and failure load of the distal radius and tibia using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT) and compared these results to those of healthy controls and 2 comparison groups of nonpegvisomant-treated acromegaly patients, remission, and active disease, matched for other therapies and characteristics. Results: In the longitudinal study, areal BMD improved at the lumbar spine but decreased at the hip in men after a median ∼7 years of pegvisomant. In the cross-sectional study, patients on a median ∼9 years of pegvisomant had significantly larger bones, lower trabecular and cortical volumetric density, and disrupted trabecular microarchitecture compared to healthy controls. Microstructure was similar in the pegvisomant and acromegaly comparison groups. BTMs were lowered, then stable over time. Conclusion: In this, the first study to examine bone microstructure in pegvisomant-treated acromegaly, we found deficits in volumetric BMD and microarchitecture of the peripheral skeleton. BTM levels remained stable with long-term therapy. Deficits in bone quality identified by HRpQCT may play a role in the pathogenesis of fragility in treated acromegaly.

Pre-operative bone quality deficits and risk of complications following spine fusion surgery among postmenopausal women.

Poor bone quality is a risk factor for complications after spinal fusion surgery. This study investigated pre-operative bone quality in postmenopausal women undergoing spine fusion and found that those with small bones, thinner cortices and surgeries involving more vertebral levels were at highest risk for complications. PURPOSE: Spinal fusion is one of the most common surgeries performed worldwide. While skeletal complications are common, underlying skeletal deficits are often missed by pre-operative DXA due to artifact from spinal pathology. This prospective cohort study investigated pre-operative bone quality using high resolution peripheral CT (HRpQCT) and its relation to post-operative outcomes in postmenopausal women, a population that may be at particular risk for skeletal complications. We hypothesized that women with low volumetric BMD (vBMD) and abnormal microarchitecture would have higher rates of post-operative complications. METHODS: Pre-operative imaging included areal BMD (aBMD) by DXA, cortical and trabecular vBMD and microarchitecture of the radius and tibia by high resolution peripheral CT. Intra-operative bone quality was subjectively graded based on resistance to pedicle screw insertion. Post-operative complications were assessed by radiographs and CTs. RESULTS: Among 50 women enrolled (age 65 years), mean spine aBMD was normal and 35% had osteoporosis by DXA at any site. Low aBMD and vBMD were associated with "poor" subjective intra-operative quality. Skeletal complications occurred in 46% over a median follow-up of 15 months. In Cox proportional models, complications were associated with greater number of surgical levels (HR 1.19 95% CI 1.06-1.34), smaller tibia total area (HR 1.67 95% CI1.16-2.44) and lower tibial cortical thickness (HR 1.35 95% CI 1.05-1.75; model p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Women with smaller bones, thinner cortices and procedures involving a greater number of vertebrae were at highest risk for post-operative complications, providing insights into surgical and skeletal risk factors for complications in this population.

Persistent Deficits in Bone Quality in Treated Acromegaly: Evidence From Assessments of Microstructure.

Purpose: Fractures are increased in patients with acromegaly, both before and after successful acromegaly treatment. Abnormalities of bone microstructure, which may underlie this fragility, are present in active acromegaly but to what extent these improve with acromegaly treatment or persist despite biochemical remission remains unclear. To examine these questions, we studied the effects of acromegaly treatment and remission on bone quality. Methods: Sixty-five women and men with acromegaly were studied. Subgroups underwent assessments of areal bone mineral density by dual x-ray absorptiometry, trabecular bone score (TBS), and volumetric bone mineral density, microarchitecture, stiffness and failure load of the distal radius and tibia by high-resolution peripheral quantitative tomography in a longitudinal study before and after acromegaly treatment and in a cross-sectional study in which patients were compared to sex-, age-, and body mass index-matched healthy controls. Results: In the longitudinal study, significant increases in total, cortical, and trabecular densities at the radius and tibia and increased stiffness and failure load of the tibia occurred with acromegaly treatment. In the cross-sectional study, patients in biochemical remission after surgery had larger bones, lower trabecular and cortical volumetric density, and disrupted trabecular microarchitecture compared to controls. TBS did not change with acromegaly treatment but correlated with some microstructural parameters. Conclusion: We show, for the first time, that volumetric bone mineral density and microarchitecture of the peripheral skeleton improve with acromegaly treatment but remain abnormal in patients in remission after surgery compared to controls. These abnormalities, known to be associated with fractures in other populations, may play a role in the pathogenesis of persistent fragility in treated acromegaly.

Opportunistic Evaluation of Trabecular Bone Texture by MRI Reflects Bone Mineral Density and Microarchitecture.

CONTEXT: Many individuals at high risk for fracture are never evaluated for osteoporosis and subsequently do not receive necessary treatment. Utilization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is burgeoning, providing an ideal opportunity to use MRI to identify individuals with skeletal deficits. We previously reported that MRI-based bone texture was more heterogeneous in postmenopausal women with a history of fracture compared to controls. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to identify the microstructural characteristics that underlie trabecular texture features. METHODS: In a prospective cohort, we measured spine volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) by quantitative computed tomography (QCT), peripheral vBMD and microarchitecture by high-resolution peripheral QCT (HRpQCT), and areal BMD (aBMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Vertebral trabecular bone texture was analyzed using T1-weighted MRIs. A gray level co-occurrence matrix was used to characterize the distribution and spatial organization of voxelar intensities and derive the following texture features: contrast (variability), entropy (disorder), angular second moment (ASM; uniformity), and inverse difference moment (IDM; local homogeneity). RESULTS: Among 46 patients (mean age 64, 54% women), lower peripheral vBMD and worse trabecular microarchitecture by HRpQCT were associated with greater texture heterogeneity by MRI-higher contrast and entropy (r ∼ -0.3 to 0.4, P < .05), lower ASM and IDM (r ∼ +0.3 to 0.4, P < .05). Lower spine vBMD by QCT was associated with higher contrast and entropy (r ∼ -0.5, P < .001), lower ASM and IDM (r ∼ +0.5, P < .001). Relationships with aBMD were less pronounced. CONCLUSION: MRI-based measurements of trabecular bone texture relate to vBMD and microarchitecture, suggesting that this method reflects underlying microstructural properties of trabecular bone. Further investigation is required to validate this methodology, which could greatly improve identification of patients with skeletal fragility.

Peripheral cortical bone density predicts vertebral bone mineral properties in spine fusion surgery patients.

Spine fusion surgery is one of the most common orthopedic procedures, with over 400,000 performed annually to correct deformities and pain. However, complications occur in approximately one third of cases. While many of these complications may be related to poor bone quality, it is difficult to detect bone abnormalities prior to surgery. Areal BMD (aBMD) assessed by DXA may be artifactually high in patients with spine pathology, leading to missed diagnosis of deficits. In this study, we related preoperative imaging characteristics of both central and peripheral sites to direct measurements of bone quality in vertebral biopsies. We hypothesized that pre-operative imaging outcomes would relate to vertebral bone mineralization and collagen properties. Pre-operative assessments included DXA measurements of aBMD of the spine, hip, and forearm, central quantitative computed tomography (QCT) of volumetric BMD (vBMD) at the lumbar spine, and high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT; Xtreme CT2) measurements of vBMD and microarchitecture at the distal radius and tibia. Bone samples were collected intraoperatively from the lumbar vertebrae and analyzed using Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Bone samples were obtained from 23 postmenopausal women (mean age 67 ± 7 years, BMI 28 ± 8 kg/m2). We found that patients with more mature bone by FTIR, measured as lower acid phosphate content and carbonate to phosphate ratio, and greater collagen maturity and mineral maturity/crystallinity (MMC), had greater cortical vBMD at the tibia and greater aBMD at the lumbar spine and one-third radius. Our data suggests that bone quality at peripheral sites may predict bone quality at the spine. As bone quality at the spine is challenging to assess prior to surgery, there is a great need for additional screening tools. Pre-operative peripheral bone imaging may provide important insight into vertebral bone quality and may foster identification of patients with bone quality deficits.

Epidural Steroid Injections Acutely Suppress Bone Formation Markers in Postmenopausal Women.

CONTEXT: Over 9 million epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are performed annually in the United States. Although these injections effectively treat lumbar radicular pain, they may have adverse consequences, including bone loss. OBJECTIVE: To investigate acute changes in bone turnover following ESI. We focused on postmenopausal women, who may be at greatest risk for adverse skeletal consequences due to the combined effects of ESIs with aging and estrogen deficiency. METHODS: Single-center prospective observational study. Postmenopausal women undergoing lumbar ESIs and controls with no steroid exposure were included. Outcomes were serum cortisol, markers of bone formation, osteocalcin, and procollagen type-1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), and bone resorption by C-telopeptide (CTX) measured at baseline, 1, 4, 12, 26, and 52 weeks after ESIs. RESULTS: Among ESI-treated women, serum cortisol declined by ~50% 1 week after injection. Bone formation markers significantly decreased 1 week following ESIs: osteocalcin by 21% and P1NP by 22%. Both markers remained suppressed at 4 and 12 weeks, but returned to baseline levels by 26 weeks. There was no significant change in bone resorption measured by CTX. Among controls, there were no significant changes in cortisol or bone turnover markers. CONCLUSION: These results provide evidence of an early and substantial reduction in bone formation markers following ESIs. This effect persisted for over 12 weeks, suggesting that ESIs may have lasting skeletal consequences. Given the large population of older adults who receive ESIs, further investigation into the long-term skeletal sequelae of these injections is warranted.

Distributions of Microdamage Are Altered Between Trabecular Rods and Plates in Cancellous Bone From Men With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have an increased risk of fragility fracture despite exhibiting normal to high bone mineral density (BMD). Conditions arising from T2DM, such as reduced bone turnover and alterations in microarchitecture, may contribute to skeletal fragility by influencing bone morphology and microdamage accumulation. The objectives of this study were (i) to characterize the effect of T2DM on microdamage quantity and morphology in cancellous bone, and (ii) relate the accumulation of microdamage to the cancellous microarchitecture. Cancellous specimens from the femoral neck were collected during total hip arthroplasty (T2DM: n = 22, age = 65 ± 9 years, glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] = 7.00% ± 0.98%; non-diabetic [non-DM]: n = 25, age = 61 ± 8 years, HbA1c = 5.50% ± 0.4%), compressed to 3% strain, stained with lead uranyl acetate to isolate microdamage, and scanned with micro-computed tomography (µCT). Individual trabeculae segmentation was used to isolate rod-like and plate-like trabeculae and their orientations with respect to the loading axis. The T2DM group trended toward a greater BV/TV (+27%, p = 0.07) and had a more plate-like trabecular architecture (+8% BVplates , p = 0.046) versus non-DM specimens. Rods were more damaged relative to their volume compared to plates in the non-DM group (DVrods /BVrods versus DVplates /BVplates : +49%, p < 0.0001), but this difference was absent in T2DM specimens. Longitudinal rods were more damaged in the non-DM group (DVlongitudinal rods /BVlongitudinal rods : +73% non-DM versus T2DM, p = 0.027). Total damage accumulation (DV/BV) and morphology (DS/DV) did not differ in T2DM versus non-DM specimens. These results provide evidence that cancellous microarchitecture does not explain fracture risk in T2DM, pointing to alterations in material matrix properties. In particular, cancellous bone from men with T2DM may have an attenuated ability to mitigate microdamage accumulation through sacrificial rods. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Clinical Characteristics and Fracture Patterns Among Postmenopausal Women with Isolated Osteoporosis at the Forearm.

Patients found to have isolated osteoporosis at the 1/3 radius (1/3RO) represent a therapeutic dilemma. It is unknown whether 1/3RO is associated with an increased risk of fragility fractures, and is therefore unclear whether these patients should be treated similarly to those with osteoporosis at central sites. This retrospective study investigated the clinical significance of 1/3RO by comparing medical history, fracture prevalence, areal BMD, and Trabecular Bone Score in postmenopausal women with 1/3RO (n = 107) to age-matched women with osteoporosis at the hip and/or spine (PMO, n = 214), and to controls without osteoporosis at any site (n = 214). We then compared the clinical and densitometric characteristics among women with 1/3RO according to fracture history. The mean age of the 535 women included in the study was 71 ± 8 yr. Women with 1/3RO had BMD in the osteopenic range at all other sites (mean spine T-score = -1.0, total hip = -1.4, femoral neck = -1.7). Women with 1/3RO reported similar calcium and vitamin D intake, prevalence of primary hyperparathyroidism, chronic kidney disease, and other comorbidities compared to the other groups. The prevalence of an osteoporotic fracture of the spine, hip, wrist, or humerus tended to be higher among women with PMO compared to 1/3RO or controls (PMO: 31%, 1/3RO: 21%, Controls: 23%, p = 0.07). Among women with 1/3RO, fracture prevalence was related to older age. No other clinical characteristic distinguished women with and without fracture. Neither BMD at other sites nor TBS differed according to fracture history. Among postmenopausal women with 1/3RO, those who are older are at an increased risk of fracture, even when T-scores at other sites are well above the osteoporosis threshold. Additional research is needed to confirm our results, and to assess whether treatment should be considered to reduce fracture risk in older women with 1/3RO.

Glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Osteonecrosis (ON) is a complex and multifactorial complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ON is a devastating condition that causes severe pain and compromises the quality of life. The prevalence of ON in SLE patients is variable, ranging from 1.7% to 52%. However, the pathophysiology and risk factors for ON in patients with SLE have not yet been fully determined. Several mechanisms for SLE patients' propensity to develop ON have been proposed. Glucocorticoid is a widely used therapeutic option for SLE patients and high-dose glucocorticoid therapy in SLE patients is strongly associated with the development of ON. Although the hips and knees are the most commonly affected areas, it may be present at multiple anatomical locations. Clinically, ON often remains undetected until patients feel discomfort and pain at specific sites at which point the process of bone death is already advanced. However, strategies for prevention and options for treatment are limited. Here, we review the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment options for glucocorticoid-induced ON, with a specific focus on patients with SLE.

MRI-based Texture Analysis of Trabecular Bone for Opportunistic Screening of Skeletal Fragility.

CONTEXT: Many individuals at high risk for osteoporosis and fragility fracture are never screened by traditional methods. Opportunistic use of imaging obtained for other clinical purposes is required to foster identification of these patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate texture features as a measure of bone fragility, by comparing clinically acquired magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from individuals with and without a history of fragility fracture. METHODS: This study retrospectively investigated 100 subjects who had lumbar spine MRI performed at our institution. Cases (n = 50) were postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and a confirmed history of fragility fracture. Controls (n = 50) were age- and race-matched postmenopausal women with no known fracture history. Trabecular bone from the lumbar vertebrae was segmented to create regions of interest within which a gray level co-occurrence matrix was used to quantify the distribution and spatial organization of voxel intensity. Heterogeneity in the trabecular bone texture was assessed by several features, including contrast (variability), entropy (disorder), and angular second moment (homogeneity). RESULTS: Texture analysis revealed that trabecular bone was more heterogeneous in fracture patients. Specifically, fracture patients had greater texture variability (+76% contrast; P = 0.005), greater disorder (+10% entropy; P = 0.005), and less homogeneity (-50% angular second moment; P = 0.005) compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: MRI-based textural analysis of trabecular bone discriminated between patients with known osteoporotic fractures and controls. Further investigation is required to validate this promising methodology, which could greatly expand the number of patients screened for skeletal fragility.

Long-term Bone Loss and Deterioration of Microarchitecture After Gastric Bypass in African American and Latina Women.

CONTEXT: The prevalence of obesity is burgeoning among African American and Latina women; however, few studies investigating the skeletal effects of bariatric surgery have focused on these groups. OBJECTIVE: To investigate long-term skeletal changes following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in African American and Latina women. DESIGN: Four-year prospective cohort study. PATIENTS: African American and Latina women presenting for RYGB (n = 17, mean age 44, body mass index 44 kg/m2) were followed annually for 4 years postoperatively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured areal bone mineral density (aBMD) at the spine, hip, and forearm, and body composition. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography measured volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and microarchitecture. Individual trabecula segmentation-based morphological analysis assessed trabecular morphology and connectivity. RESULTS: Baseline DXA Z-Scores were normal. Weight decreased ~30% at Year 1, then stabilized. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) increased by 50% and 25-hydroxyvitamin D was stable. By Year 4, aBMD had declined at all sites, most substantially in the hip. There was significant, progressive loss of cortical and trabecular vBMD, deterioration of microarchitecture, and increased cortical porosity at both the radius and tibia over 4 years. There was loss of trabecular plates, loss of axially aligned trabeculae, and decreased trabecular connectivity. Whole bone stiffness and failure load declined. Risk factors for bone loss included greater weight loss, rise in PTH, and older age. CONCLUSIONS: African American and Latina women had substantial and progressive bone loss, deterioration of microarchitecture, and trabecular morphology following RYGB. Further studies are critical to understand the long-term skeletal consequences of bariatric surgery in this population.

Patients with abnormal microarchitecture have an increased risk of early complications after spinal fusion surgery.

Spine fusion is one of the most common orthopedic surgeries, with more than 400,000 cases performed annually. While these procedures correct debilitating pain and deformities, complications occur in up to 45%. As successful fusion rests upon early stability of hardware in bone, patients with structural skeletal deficits may be at particular risk for complications. Few studies have investigated this relationship, and none have used higher order imaging to evaluate microstructural mechanisms for complications. Standard DXA measurements are subject to artifact in patients with spinal disease and therefore provide limited information. The goal of this prospective study was to investigate pre-operative bone quality as a risk factor for early post-operative complications using high resolution peripheral QCT (HR-pQCT) measurements of volumetric BMD (vBMD) and microarchitecture. We hypothesized that patients with low vBMD and abnormal microarchitecture at baseline would have more skeletal complications post-operatively. Conversely, we hypothesized that pre-operative DXA measurements would not be predictive of complications. Fifty-four subjects (mean age 63 years, BMI 27 kg/m2) were enrolled pre-operatively and followed for 6 months after multi-level lumbar spine fusion. Skeletal complications occurred in 14 patients. Patients who developed complications were of similar age and BMI to those who did not. Baseline areal BMD and Trabecular Bone Score by DXA did not differ. In contrast, HR-pQCT revealed that patients who developed complications had lower trabecular vBMD, fewer and thinner trabeculae at both the radius and tibia, and thinner tibial cortices. In summary, abnormalities of both trabecular and cortical microarchitecture were associated the development of complications within the first six months following spine fusion surgery. Our results suggest a mechanism for early skeletal complications after fusion. Given the burgeoning number of fusion surgeries, further studies are necessary to investigate strategies that may improve bone quality and lower the risk of post-operative complications.

Clinical Experience with COVID-19 at a Specialty Orthopedic Hospital Converted to a Pandemic Overflow Field Hospital.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has sickened millions and killed hundreds of thousands as of June 2020. New York City was affected gravely. Our hospital, a specialty orthopedic hospital unaccustomed to large volumes of patients with life-threatening respiratory infections, underwent rapid adaptation to care for COVID-19 patients in response to emergency surge conditions at neighboring hospitals. PURPOSES: We sought to determine the attributes, pharmacologic and other treatments, and clinical course in the cohort of patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to our hospital at the height of the pandemic in April 2020 in New York City. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study of all patients admitted between April 1 and April 21, 2020, who had a diagnosis of COVID-19. Data were gathered from the electronic health record and by manual chart abstraction. RESULTS: Of the 148 patients admitted with COVID-19 (mean age, 62 years), ten patients died. There were no deaths among non-critically ill patients transferred from other hospitals, while 26% of those with critical illness died. A subset of COVID-19 patients was admitted for orthopedic and medical conditions other than COVID-19, and some of these patients required intensive care and ventilatory support. CONCLUSION: Professional and organizational flexibility during pandemic conditions allowed a specialty orthopedic hospital to provide excellent care in a global public health emergency.

The Skeletal Consequences of Bariatric Surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review outlines the recent findings regarding the impact of bariatric surgery on bone. It explores potential mechanisms for skeletal changes following bariatric surgery and strategies for management. RECENT FINDINGS: Bone loss following bariatric surgery is multifactorial. Probable mechanisms include skeletal unloading, abnormalities in calciotropic hormones, and changes in gut hormones. Skeletal changes that occur after bariatric surgery are specific to procedure type and persist for several years post-operatively. Studies suggest that while bone loss begins early, fracture risk may be increased later in the post-operative course, particularly after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Further research is needed to assess the extent to which skeletal changes following bariatric surgery result in fragility. Current management should be geared toward prevention of bone loss, correction of nutritional deficiencies, and incorporation of weight bearing exercise. Pharmacologic treatment should be considered for high-risk patients.

Abnormal microarchitecture and stiffness in postmenopausal women with isolated osteoporosis at the 1/3 radius.

BACKGROUND: Postmenopausal women with isolated osteoporosis at the 1/3 radius (1/3RO) present a therapeutic dilemma. Little is known about whether these patients have generalized skeletal fragility, and whether this finding warrants treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical and microarchitectural phenotype of women with 1/3RO compared to women with classic postmenopausal osteoporosis by DXA at the spine and hip (PMO), and controls without osteoporosis at any site. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 266 postmenopausal women, who were grouped according to densitometric pattern. Subjects had serum biochemistries, areal BMD (aBMD) measured by DXA, trabecular and cortical vBMD, microarchitecture, and stiffness by high resolution peripheral QCT (HR-pQCT, voxel size ~82 µm) of the distal radius and tibia. RESULTS: Mean age was 68 ± 7 years. DXA T-Scores reflected study design. By HR-pQCT, 1/3RO had abnormalities at both radius and tibia compared to controls: lower total, cortical and trabecular vBMD, cortical thickness and trabecular number, higher trabecular separation and heterogeneity, and lower whole bone stiffness. In contrast, the magnitude and pattern of abnormalities in vBMD, microarchitecture and stiffness in 1/3RO were similar to those in PMO; the difference compared to controls was similar among the two groups. Serum calcium, creatinine, parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 24-hour urine calcium did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: Although aBMD appeared relatively preserved at the spine and hip by DXA, women with 1/3RO had significant microarchitectural and biomechanical deficits comparable to those in women with typical PMO. Further study is required to guide treatment decisions in this population.

Women With Pregnancy and Lactation-Associated Osteoporosis (PLO) Have Low Bone Remodeling Rates at the Tissue Level.

Pregnancy and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO) is a rare, severe, early form of osteoporosis in which young women present with fractures, usually multiple vertebral fractures, during late pregnancy or lactation. In studies of idiopathic osteoporosis (IOP) in premenopausal women, we enrolled 78 women with low-trauma fractures and 40 healthy controls, all with normal menses and no secondary cause of bone loss. In 15 of the affected women, the PLO subgroup, fractures had occurred during late pregnancy or lactation. We hypothesized that clinical, bone structural, and metabolic characteristics would differ between women with PLO and those with (non-PLO) IOP and controls. All were evaluated > 12 months postpartum, when structural and remodeling characteristics would be expected to reflect baseline premenopausal status rather than transient postpartum changes. As previously reported, affected subjects (PLO and IOP) had BMD and microarchitectural deficiencies compared to controls. Women with PLO did not differ from those with IOP in terms of age, BMI, body fat, menarcheal age, parity, or age at first pregnancy. However, women with PLO had a more severe clinical presentation than those with IOP: more fractures (5.5 ± 3.3 versus 2.6 ± 2.1; p = 0.005); more vertebral fractures (80% versus 17%; p < 0.001); and higher prevalence of multiple fractures. BMD deficits were more profound and cortical width tended to be lower in PLO. PLO subjects also had significantly lower tissue-level mineral apposition rate and bone formation rates (0.005 ± 0.005 versus 0.011 ± 0.010 mm2 /mm/year; p = 0.006), as well as lower serum P1NP (33 ± 12 versus 44 ± 18 µg/L; p = 0.02) and CTX (257 ± 102 versus 355 ± 193 pg/mL; p = 0.01) than IOP. The finding that women with PLO have a low bone remodeling state assessed more than a year postpartum increases our understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of PLO. We conclude that women with PLO may have underlying osteoblast functional deficits which could affect their therapeutic response to osteoanabolic medications. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

The Effect of TNF Inhibition on Bone Density and Fracture Risk and of IL17 Inhibition on Radiographic Progression and Bone Density in Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis: a Systematic Literature Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Osteoporosis in axial spondyloarthritis may be modified by therapy. The purpose of this systematic review is to describe (i) the effect of TNFi on BMD, (ii) the effect of secukinumab on BMD, and (iii) the effect of secukinumab on radiographic disease progression in axSpA. RECENT FINDINGS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane using the following retrieval languages: spondyloarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, TNF, IL-17, x-rays, and osteoporosis. Twenty-nine studies were included; 27 re: TNFi and BMD, and 2 re: IL-17 blockers and x-ray progression. TNFi over 2-4 years increased BMD of the lumbar spine (3.2-14.9%) and hip (2.26-4.7%) without reducing vertebral fractures. Secukinumab reduced radiographic progression; none (73%) and minimal (79%) at 4 years. No data on IL-17 blockade and bone were found. TNFi therapy improves bone density but not vertebral fracture rates. Secukinumab improves symptoms and may slow radiographic progression. Data is lacking regarding the effects of secukinumab on BMD and fractures. These are important questions which may impact the choice of therapy.

Urinary N-Telopeptide Can Predict Pseudarthrosis After Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion: A Prospective Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To examine preoperative urinary cross-linked n-telopeptide (uNTx) and assess for association with fusion rates in patients undergoing single and multi-level anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although high rates of fusion have been reported for ACDF, the risk of pseudarthrosis remains substantial. An established marker of bone turnover, uNTx may prove useful as a predictor of fusion. METHODS: Patients undergoing primary ACDF with allograft/plating technique from 2015 to 2017 by a single surgeon were consecutively enrolled and preoperative uNTx was collected. Patients undergoing revision, with creatinine >1.2, and with improperly-collected uNTx were excluded. Demographics, laboratory values, and fusion status were assessed at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: Of the 97 patients enrolled, 69 met inclusion criteria. Of included cases, 41%, 33%, 18%, and 8% underwent 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-level ACDF, respectively. Overall, fusion rates were 37.3%, 70.9%, and 95.3% at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years, respectively. uNTx was higher in the fusion group (31.1 vs. 22.2, P = 0.001) at 6 months and 1 year (30.0 vs. 21.0, P = 0.006), with no difference at 2 years. No differences were identified in the proportion of smokers, immunomodulatory agents, corpectomies, or fusion levels between groups. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that uNTx is an independent predictor of fusion (odds ratio, OR, 1.124, P = 0.003). Both groups experienced improvements in NDI and VAS neck pain at 6 months with no significant differences noted between groups. Of 16 patients with pseudarthrosis at 1 year, 2 underwent posterior cervical fusion for symptoms. CONCLUSION: Preoperative uNTx was greater in patients with successful ACDF fusion compared with patients with pseudarthrosis at 6 months and 1 year. A negative correlation was found between preoperative uNTx and motion on dynamic imaging. These results suggest that uNTx could serve to identify patients at risk for pseudarthrosis after ACDF. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Lower Spine Volumetric Bone Density in Patients With a History of Epidural Steroid Injections.

Context: Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are a common, effective treatment of lumbar radiculopathy and sciatica. Although the negative skeletal effects of oral glucocorticoids are well established, little is known about the impact of ESI on bone quality. Objective: To investigate the relationship between ESI exposure and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) at the lumbar spine (LS) using central quantitative CT. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: University hospital outpatient facility. Patients: All patients had CT scans of the LS between 2011 and 2016. Cases received at least three ESIs prior to the date of CT (n = 121). Controls were matched for age and sex (n = 121). Main Outcome Measures: Cumulative ESI dose was calculated. vBMD was measured at T12 through L5 using QCT Pro phantomless software (MindWays). Results: Mean age of subjects was 65 ± 14 years, and 49% were women. Median number of ESIs was 4 (range: 3 to 16). Median cumulative ESI dosage was 340 mg of triamcinolone or equivalent (range: 150 to 1400 mg). Compared with controls, ESI subjects had lower vBMD at each vertebral level. Higher cumulative dose was associated with lower mean vBMD at T12 to L5 (r = -0.22, P = 0.02). Conclusions: Greater cumulative ESI dose was related to lower vBMD at the LS. To our knowledge, this is the first study to measure vBMD in patients treated with ESIs. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and to help identify the best strategies for preventing bone loss in this population.