Lower bone density and microarchitecture alterations in HIV-infected Brazilian men aged 50 years and older are associated with estradiol levels.

OBJECTIVE: Combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) allows for longer survival for people living with HIV and hence long-term complications of both disease and treatment are common. Our purpose was to evaluate bone alterations in men living with HIV (MLWH) and receiving cART and to identify associated factors that can be corrected or mitigated. PATIENTS AND DESIGN: Thirty MLWH and 36 healthy controls (≥50 years) were studied for areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and bone microstructure (high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography [HR-pQCT]), serum calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone, 25(OH)D, testosterone (T), estradiol (E2 ), glucose, creatinine, and albumin levels. RESULTS: The proportion of patients classified as osteoporosis (according to the lowest aBMD T-score) was higher among MLWH as compared to controls (17.9% vs. 5.9%, p = .011). The MLWH showed significant alterations in cortical and trabecular bone on HR-pQCT, which were not associated with the duration of HIV infection or cART. These differences in vBMD and bone microstructure seen in HR-pQCT persisted in the nonosteoporotic MLWH as compared to nonosteoporotic control subjects. Body mass index (BMI) and fat mass were lower in MLWH and positively associated with total vBMD, cortical bone area, and thickness. E2 and E2 /T ratios were lower in MLWH than in controls and significantly correlated with several cortical and trabecular bone parameters. Multivariate regression analysis entering simultaneously age, BMI, and E2 defined that E2 is an independent influence on bone parameters evaluated by HR-pQCT. CONCLUSION: MLWH have alterations in bone volumetric density and microstructure when compared with controls, irrespective of aBMD, which are associated with lower E2 and BMI.

Microarchitectural parameters and bone mineral density in patients with tumour-induced osteomalacia by HR-pQCT and DXA.

INTRODUCTION: Tumour-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic condition characterised by decreased tubular phosphate reabsorption. The purpose of this study is to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and microarchitecture in six TIO patients, compared with 18 healthy controls. METHODS: Volumetric BMD and microarchitecture were evaluated by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), and areal BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Differences between groups were significant for p < .05. RESULTS: All TIO subjects were healthy until the development of diffuse bone pain and multiple skeletal fractures and deformities. At baseline, sPi and TmPi/GFR were low and patients were on vitamin D and phosphate replacement at the study. Compared with controls, TIO patients had lower aBMD at lumbar spine and hip, and lower vBMD at trabecular, cortical and entire bone, at distal radius (R) and distal tibia (T): trabecular vBMD (R = 118.3 × 177.1; T = 72.3 × 161.3 gHA/cm3 ); cortical vBMD (R = 782.3 × 866.5; T = 789.1 × 900.9 gHA/cm3 ); total region vBMD (R = 234.5 × 317; T = 167.1 × 295.8 gHA/cm3 ). Bone microarchitecture was very heterogeneous among patients and significantly different from controls: lower cortical thickness (R = 0.59 × 0.80; T = 0.90 × 1.31 mm), bone volume-to-total volume ratio (R = 0.09 × 0.14; T = 0.06 × 0.13) and Tb.N (R = 1.46 × 2.10; T = 0.93 × 1.96 mm-1 ) and also higher Tb.Sp (R = 0.70 × 0.41; T = 1.28 × 0.45 mm) and Tb.1/N.SD (R = 0.42 × 0.18; T = 0.87 × 0.20 mm). CONCLUSION: In this original study of TIO patients, DXA and HR-pQCT evaluation identified lower areal and volumetric BMD and severely impaired microarchitecture at cortical and trabecular bones, which probably contribute to bone fragility and fractures.

HR-pQCT detects alterations in bone microstructure in men with CKD stages 3 and 4, which are influenced by hormonal changes and body composition
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INTRODUCTION: Factors associated with osteodystrophy in predialysis patients are poorly understood. In the present study, we attempted to evaluate the impact of body composition and hormonal regulatory factors on the bone microstructure in a group of men with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3 and 4. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 46 men, aged 50 - 75 years, with previously unrecognized CKD were evaluated by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). HR-pQCT parameters were correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), age, body mass index (BMI), muscle mass index (MMI), and biochemistry. RESULTS: As compared to patients in stage 3 CKD, those with stage 4 CKD showed lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and bicarbonate levels, and higher serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. They also exhibited lower total, trabecular, and cortical volumetric bone mineral density, lower trabecular bone volume/tissue volume, trabecular number, trabecular and cortical thickness, and increased heterogeneity of the trabecular network. In the whole cohort, cortical bone density and thickness were negatively associated with age, PTH, and FGF-23, and positively with BMI. Trabecular bone parameters were positively associated with MMI and 25(OH)D. After simultaneously adjusting for age and eGFR, BMI, and MMI remained significantly associated with bone microstructural variables. CONCLUSION: HR-pQCT showed significant differences in bone microstructure in stage 4 vs. stage 3 CKD patients. Increased BMI, probably due to increased muscle mass, may favorably affect bone architecture in predialysis CKD patients.
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Bone mineral density and bone microarchitecture after long-term suppressive levothyroxine treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in young adult patients.

Bone mineral density (BMD) seems not to be decreased in young patients given long-term suppressive doses of levothyroxine (LT4), but information regarding the bone microstructure in these patients is lacking. The aim of this study was to determine whether supraphysiologic doses of LT4, initiated during childhood or adolescence for treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), have any detrimental effects on bone microarchitecture as evaluated by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT). Seventeen patients (27.3 ± 7.1 years old) with DTC with subclinical hyperthyroidism since adolescence and 34 healthy volunteers matched for age, sex, and body mass index were studied by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to determine the areal BMD at the lumbar spine, hip, and proximal third of the radius. Volumetric BMD and structural parameters of the trabecular and cortical bone were assessed by HR-pQCT of the distal radius and distal tibia. DTC patients were given suppressive doses of LT4 starting at a mean age of 12.6 years, and the mean duration of treatment was 14.2 years. In DTC patients, clinical parameters did not correlate with DXA or HR-pQCT parameters. No differences were found between the patients and controls with respect to BMD and Z scores at any site evaluated by DXA, and no differences were found in the bone microstructure parameters evaluated by HR-pQCT. This cross-sectional study suggests that long-standing suppressive therapy with LT4 during the attainment of peak bone mass may have no significant adverse effects on bone density or microarchitecture.

Bone Density Is Directly Associated With Glomerular Filtration and Metabolic Acidosis but Do Not Predict Fragility Fractures in Men With Moderate Chronic Kidney Disease.

Hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, increased fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), and metabolic acidosis promote bone fragility in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although useful in predicting fracture risk in the general population, the role of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in CKD remains uncertain. This cross-sectional study included 51 men aged 50-75 yr with moderate CKD. The stage 4 CKD patients had higher levels of parathyroid hormone (p<0.001), FGF-23 (p=0.029), and lowest 25-hydroxyvitamin D (p=0.016), bicarbonate (p<0.001), total femur (p=0.003), and femoral neck (p=0.011) T-scores compared with stage 3 CKD patients. Total femur and femoral neck T-scores were directly correlated with serum bicarbonate (p=0.003, r=0.447 and p=0.005, r=0.427, respectively) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (p=0.024, r=0.325 and p=0.003, r=0.313, respectively) but were not significantly associated with parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, or FGF-23. Only 3.9% of the participants had osteoporosis on DXA scan, whereas 31.4% reported a low-impact fracture. Our data point to a pivotal role of metabolic acidosis for bone impairment and to the inadequacy of DXA to evaluate bone fragility in CKD patients.

Bone density and microarchitecture in endogenous hypercortisolism.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoporosis is a serious and underestimated complication of endogenous hypercortisolism that results in an increased risk of fractures, even in patients with normal or slightly decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Alterations in bone microarchitecture, a very important component of bone quality, may explain bone fragility. The aim of this study was to investigate bone density and microarchitecture in a cohort of patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome (CS). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PATIENTS: Thirty patients with endogenous active CS and fifty-one age-, sex- and body mass index-matched controls were included. MEASUREMENTS: Participants were studied for areal BMD (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) of the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), total femur (TF) and radius (33%), and for volumetric bone density (vBMD) and structure using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) of the distal radius and distal tibia. RESULTS: Patients with active CS exhibited lower areal BMD and Z-score values in the LS, FN and TF (P < 0·003 for all comparisons). At HR-pQCT, the patients with CS also had lower cortical area (P = 0·009 at the radius and P = 0·002 at the tibia), lower cortical thickness (P = 0·02 at the radius and P = 0·002 at the tibia), lower cortical density (P = 0·008 at the tibia) and lower total vBMD (P = 0·002 at the tibia). After the exclusion of hypogonadal individuals, the patients with CS maintained the same microarchitectural and densitometric alterations described above. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous hypercortisolism has deleterious effects on bone, especially on cortical bone microstructure. These effects seem to be a more important determinant of bone impairment than gonadal status.

Evaluation of bone mineral density, microarchitecture, and detection of fractures on young patients living with human immunodeficiency virus: when and how to screen?

PURPOSE: People living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) developed higher life expectancy along with chronic bone disease over the past years. Our purpose is to evaluate bone mineral density, bone microarchitecture and fractures in young PLWH and understand the disease's contribution to bone derangements and fracture risk. METHODS: Eighty-one HIV-infected and 54 control young (20-50 years) male and female subjects were enrolled in this study. Methods for patient evaluation included DXA-VFA (dual energy X-rays and vertebral fracture assessment), HR-pQCT (high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography), biochemistry and FRAX. RESULTS: Fifty participants from each group completed all exams. Median age was 40 (25-49) vs. 36.5 (22-50) for the HIV and control groups, respectively (p 0.120). Ethnicity, body mass index, serum phosphorus, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, PTH and CTX were similar between groups, although ALP and OC suggested higher bone turnover in PLWH. VFA identified morphometric vertebral fractures in 12% of PLWH. PLWH had lower values for lumbar spine areal BMD and Z score, volumetric BMD, trabecular bone fraction (BV/TV) and trabecular number measured at the distal tibia by HR-pQCT; as a consequence, trabecular separation and heterogeneity were higher (all p < 0.05). The FRAX-estimated risk for hip and major osteoporotic fractures was statistically higher in PLWH (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results confirm severe bone impairment and fractures associated with HIV in young patients. Thus, we developed a screening protocol for young PLWH to detect bone fragility, reduce skeletal disease progression and morbimortality, decrease fracture risk, and increase quality of life.

Chronic hypoparathyroidism is associated with increased cortical bone density evaluated using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography.

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess bone mineral density (BMD), bone microarchitecture and fracture prevalence in women with chronic postsurgical hypoparathyroidism (hypoPT). METHODS: Twenty-seven women with postsurgical hypoPT and 44 age-matched healthy women were included. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to evaluate areal BMD and vertebral fracture assessment. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography assessed microarchitecture and volumetric BMD at the distal radius and tibia. Biochemical parameters, including fibroblast growth factor 23, C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), were also measured. Previous low-impact fractures were assessed and the 10-year fracture risk was estimated using the FRAX tool for the Brazilian population. RESULTS: No participant had prevalent clinical fractures, and both groups showed low risk for major and hip based on FRAX tool, but two hypoPT patients had moderate to severe morphometric vertebral fractures. Women with hypoPT had increased aBMD in the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip (p < 0.05) and higher cortical vBMD in the radius (p = 0.020) and tibia (p < 0.001). Trabecular bone was not affected. Both P1NP and ICTP suggested low bone turnover rates, but no significant correlation was observed between bone density or microstructure and any of the biochemical parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of fragility fractures was low in HypoPT women and compatible with low fracture risk estimated by the FRAX tool. Patients had a higher aBMD and cortical vBMD than those of healthy control women, but the association with decreased bone turnover remains unclear.

Assessment of trabecular and cortical parameters using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography, histomorphometry and microCT of iliac crest bone core in hemodialysis patients.

Patients with end-stage renal disease develop changes in bone quality and quantity, which can be assessed using different methods. This study aimed to compare and to correlate bone parameters obtained in vivo using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) with those obtained by bone biopsy using histomorphometry and microcomputed tomography (microCT) analysis of the iliac crest core, and to evaluate if HR-pQCT is helpful in aiding with categorization of those with high turnover. Twenty hemodialysis patients, 13 females (7 postmenopausal), underwent bone biopsy from 2018 to 2020. The mean age was 48.5 ± 10.6 years, and the mean hemodialysis vintage was 15 years. Histomorphometry identified mineralization defects, low turnover, and high turnover in 65%, 45%, and 35% of the patients, respectively. The highest values of trabecular bone volume (BV/TV) were obtained by histomorphometry, while the highest values of cortical thickness (Ct.Th) were obtained by HR-pQCT at the distal tibia. Moderate correlations were found between BV/TV values obtained by microCT of the bone core and HR-pQCT at the distal radius (r = 0.531, p = 0.016) and at the distal tibia (r = 0.536, p = 0.015). BV/TV values obtained from the bone core by histomorphometry and microCT were also significantly correlated (r = 0.475, p = 0.04). Regarding Ct.Th, there was a strong correlation between the radius and tibia HR-pQCT (r = 0.800, p < 0.001), between bone core microCT and the distal radius HR-pQCT (r = 0.610, p < 0.01), as between histomorphometry and microCT (r = 0.899, p < 0.01). In groups classified by bone turnover, patients with high turnover presented lower BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb.Th, and Ct.Th than those with low turnover in peripheral sites using HR-pQCT. By this method, it was possible to identify low turnover from tibia BV/TV > 12,4% plus Tb.Sp ≤ 0.667 mm (AUC 0.810, 95% CI 0.575 to 0.948) and high turnover from total bone mineral density (BMD) ≤ 154.2 mg HA/cm3 (AUC 0.860, 95% CI 0.633 to 0.982, p < 0.001) and cortical BMD ≤ 691.6 mg HA/cm3 (AUC 0.840, 95% CI 0.609 to 0.963, p < 0.001). In conclusion, HR-pQCT had significant correlation with iliac crest bone in BV/TV and Ct.Th, which are known to provide bone strength. This method is quick and non-invasive and may be helpful in categorizing those with high versus low turnover in hemodialysis patients.

Bone Evaluation by High-Resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography in Patients With Adrenal Incidentaloma.

CONTEXT: Data regarding high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) in patients with adrenal incidentaloma (AI) are unknown. PURPOSE: To evaluate the areal bone mineral density (aBMD), microstructure, and fractures in patients with nonfunctioning AI (NFAI) and autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS). METHODS: We evaluated 45 patients with NFAI (1 mg dexamethasone suppression test [DST] ≤1.8 µg/dL) and 30 patients with ACS (1 mg DST 1.9-5.0 µg/dL). aBMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; vertebral fracture by spine X-ray; and bone geometry, volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), and microstructure by HR-pQCT. RESULTS: Patients with ACS showed lower aBMD values at the spine, femoral neck, and radius 33% than those with NFAI. Osteoporosis was frequent in both groups: NFAI (64.9%) and ACS (75%). Parameters at the distal radius by HR-pQCT were decreased in patients with ACS compared to those with NFAI: trabecular vBMD (Tb.vBMD, P = 0.03), inner zone of the trabecular region (Inn.Tb.vBMD, P = 0.01), the bone volume/tissue volume ratio (BV/TV, P = 0.03) and trabecular thickness (P = 0.04). As consequence, a higher ratio of the outer zone of the trabecular region/inner zone vBMD (Meta/Inn.vBMD, P = 0.003) was observed. A correlation between the cortisol levels after 1 mg DST and Meta/Inn.vBMD ratio was found (r = 0.29; P = 0.01). The fracture frequency was 73.7% in patients with ACS vs 55.6% in patients with NFAI (P = 0.24). CONCLUSION: Our findings point to an association between trabecular bone microarchitectural derangement at the distal radius and ACS. Our data suggest that AI have a negative impact on bone when assessed by HR-pQCT, probably associated to subclinical hypercortisolism.

Bone Mineral Density and Microarchitecture in Patients With Autosomal Dominant Osteopetrosis: A Report of Two Cases.

The aim of this case study is to describe changes in areal bone mineral density (aBMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, as well as volumetric bone density and microarchitecture by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) in two patients with autosomal dominant osteopetrosis (ADO) and compare with 20 healthy subjects. We describe a 44-year-old male patient with six low-impact fractures since he was age 16 years, and a 32-year-old female patient with four low-impact fractures on her past history. Radiographic changes were typical of ADO. Consistent with the much higher aBMD, total volumetric BMD (average bone density of the whole bone, including trabecular and cortical compartments) at distal radius and tibia (HR-pQCT) was more than twice the mean values found in healthy subjects in both patients. Trabecular number and thickness were higher, leading to an evident increase in trabecular bone volume to tissue volume. Also, an enormous increase in cortical thickness was found. Most important, a great heterogeneity in bone microstructure of the affected patients was evident on HR-pQCT images: islets of very dense bone were interposed with areas with apparent normal density. The increase in aBMD, volumetric BMD, and most indices of trabecular and cortical bone, associated with the great heterogeneity on bone tridimensional microarchitecture, reflect the accumulation of old and fragile bone randomly distributed along the skeleton. These alterations in bone microstructure probably compromise bone quality, which might justify the high prevalence of low-impact fractures in patients with ADO, despite abnormally elevated BMD.

Calcium intake: good for the bones but bad for the heart? An analysis of clinical studies.

The proper dietary calcium intake and calcium supplementation, when indicated, are important factors in the acquisition of peak bone mass during youth and in the prevention of fractures in old age. In addition to its deposition in bone, calcium confers an increase in its resistance and exhibits important activities in different enzymatic pathways in the body (e.g., neural, hormonal, muscle-related and blood clotting pathways). Thus, calcium supplementation can directly or indirectly affect important functions in the body, such as the control of blood pressure, plasma glucose, body weight, lipid profile and endothelial function. Since one publication reported increased cardiovascular risk due to calcium supplementation, many researchers have studied whether this risk actually exists; the results are conflicting, and the involved mechanisms are uncertain. However, studies that have evaluated the influence of the consumption of foods rich in calcium have reported no increase in the cardiovascular risk, which suggests that nutritional intake should be prioritized as a method for supplementation and that the use of calcium supplements should be reserved for patients who truly need supplementation and are unable to achieve the recommended daily nutritional intake of calcium.

Use of aromatase inhibitors in patients with breast cancer is associated with deterioration of bone microarchitecture and density

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate changes in bone density and architecture in postmenopausal women with breast cancer (BC) and use of aromatase inhibitor (AI). Subjects and methods: Thirty-four postmenopausal women with BC, without bone metastasis, renal function impairment and who were not receiving bone-active drugs were selected from a population of 523 outpatients treated for BC. According to the presence of hormonal receptors, HER2 and Ki67, seventeen had positive hormonal receptors and received anastrozole (AI group), and seventeen were triple-negative receptors (non-AI group), previously treated with chemotherapy. Areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) analyses were performed by DXA; vBMD and bone microarchitecture were evaluated by HR-pQCT. Fracture risk was estimated using the FRAX tool. Results: No patient referred previous low-impact fracture, and VFA detected one moderate vertebral fracture in a non-AI patient. AI patients showed lower aBMD and BMD T-scores at the hip and 33% radius and a higher proportion of osteoporosis diagnosis on DXA (47%) vs non-AI (17.6%). AI group had significantly lower values for vBMD at the entire, cortical and trabecular bone compartments, cortical and trabecular thickness and BV/TV. They also had a higher risk for major fractures and for hip fractures estimated by FRAX. Several HR-pQCT parameters evaluated at distal radius and distal tibia were significantly associated with fracture risk. Conclusion: AI is associated with alterations in bone density and microarchitecture of both the cortical and trabecular compartments. These findings explain the overall increase in fracture risk in this specific population.

Osteoporosis management in patient with renal function impairment.

Aging is associated with decreases in bone quality and in glomerular filtration. Consequently, osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common comorbid conditions in the elderly, and often coexist. Biochemical abnormalities in the homeostasis of calcium and phosphorus begin early in CKD, leading to an increase in fracture risk and cardiovascular complications since early stages of the disease. The ability of DXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) to diagnose osteoporosis and to predict fractures in this population remains unclear. The management of the disease is also controversial: calcium and vitamin D, although recommended, must be prescribed with caution, considering vascular calcification risk and the development of adynamic bone disease. Furthermore, safety and effectiveness of osteoporosis drugs are not established in patients with CKD. Thus, risks and benefits of antiosteoporosis treatment must be considered individually.

Acromegaly has a negative influence on trabecular bone, but not on cortical bone, as assessed by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography.

INTRODUCTION: Acromegaly is one of the causes of secondary osteoporosis, although studies of bone mineral density (BMD) have yielded conflicting results and none of them have evaluated the bone properties. OBJECTIVES AND PATIENTS: Our objective was to correlate, in a cohort of 82 acromegalic patients, BMD and bone microarchitecture, using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography, with the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), disease activity, and gonadal status and to compare these bone parameters between 45 eugonadal acromegalic patients and 45 healthy controls. RESULTS: Acromegalic patients with T2DM had lower trabecular density and trabecular bone volume to tissue volume ratio in the distal tibia. Patients with active acromegaly exhibited a higher BMD and T-score in the lumbar spine (P = .02 for both) and a higher cortical density in the distal tibia when compared with those with controlled acromegaly (P = .001). After multiple linear regression (including age, presence of T2DM, acromegaly activity, and gonadal status), eugonadism remained the main determinant of bone parameters. The 45 acromegalic patients with eugonadism were compared with 45 age- and sex-matched controls and exhibited lower trabecular densities and impaired microstructures. CONCLUSIONS: Acromegaly appears to have a deleterious effect on trabecular bone microarchitecture, and in this specific population, the gonadal status might be more important than T2DM or acromegaly activity in determining bone health. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography seems promising for evaluating acromegalic bone properties and for addressing the limitations posed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Calcium intake: good for the bones but bad for the heart? An analysis of clinical studies

ABSTRACT The proper dietary calcium intake and calcium supplementation, when indicated, are important factors in the acquisition of peak bone mass during youth and in the prevention of fractures in old age. In addition to its deposition in bone, calcium confers an increase in its resistance and exhibits important activities in different enzymatic pathways in the body (e.g., neural, hormonal, muscle-related and blood clotting pathways). Thus, calcium supplementation can directly or indirectly affect important functions in the body, such as the control of blood pressure, plasma glucose, body weight, lipid profile and endothelial function. Since one publication reported increased cardiovascular risk due to calcium supplementation, many researchers have studied whether this risk actually exists; the results are conflicting, and the involved mechanisms are uncertain. However, studies that have evaluated the influence of the consumption of foods rich in calcium have reported no increase in the cardiovascular risk, which suggests that nutritional intake should be prioritized as a method for supplementation and that the use of calcium supplements should be reserved for patients who truly need supplementation and are unable to achieve the recommended daily nutritional intake of calcium.

Osteoporosis management in patient with renal function impairment / Manejo da osteoporose no paciente com função renal comprometida

Aging is associated with decreases in bone quality and in glomerular filtration. Consequently, osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common comorbid conditions in the elderly, and often coexist. Biochemical abnormalities in the homeostasis of calcium and phosphorus begin early in CKD, leading to an increase in fracture risk and cardiovascular complications since early stages of the disease. The ability of DXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) to diagnose osteoporosis and to predict fractures in this population remains unclear. The management of the disease is also controversial: calcium and vitamin D, although recommended, must be prescribed with caution, considering vascular calcification risk and the development of adynamic bone disease. Furthermore, safety and effectiveness of osteoporosis drugs are not established in patients with CKD. Thus, risks and benefits of antiosteoporosis treatment must be considered individually.

O envelhecimento associa-se tanto ao declínio da qualidade óssea quanto da filtração glomerular. Consequentemente, osteoporose e doença renal crônica (DRC) são comorbidades frequentes em idosos, e muitas vezes coexistem. Anormalidades bioquímicas na homeostase do cálcio e do fósforo surgem precocemente na DRC, causando aumento do risco de fraturas e de complicações cardiovasculares desde fases precoces da doença. A capacidade da densitometria (DXA) em diagnosticar osteoporose e predizer fraturas nessa população é questionável. O manejo da doença é também controverso; cálcio e vitamina D são recomendados com cautela, devido ao risco de calcificações vasculares e de doença óssea adinâmica. Além disso, a segurança e a eficácia dos medicamentos para osteoporose ainda não estão estabelecidas em pacientes com DRC. Assim, riscos e benefícios do tratamento para osteoporose devem ser considerados individualmente nesses pacientes.

Osteotaxia no tratamento definitivo das fraturas diafisárias do fêmur / Osteotaxis in the final treatment of femoral diaphysis fractures

Os autores apresentam sua experiência no tratamento de 20 fraturas do fêmur (18 pacientes) com fixador externo. De 18 fraturas em 16 pacientes que prosseguiram tratamento na instituição, três não consolidaram. Nas 15 restantes, o tempo médio de consolidação foi de cinco meses. O principal problema, durante e depois do tratamento, foi a diminuição da mobilidade articular do joelho.