Subclinical hypercortisol-assessment of bone fragility: experience of single osteoporosis center in Sicily.
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci
; 18(3): 352-8, 2014.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24563434
ABSTRACT
AIM:
Hypercortisolism is known to cause osteoporosis. Some evidence suggests that osteoporotic fractures may be the presenting manifestations of otherwise-asymptomatic hypercortisolism. The aim of our research was to investigate the prevalence of subclinical hypercortisolism (SH) in postmenopausal women evaluated for bone fragility. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
One hundred consecutive postmenopausal women attending the Osteoporosis Centre in the Department of Internal Medicine of the University of Messina (Messina, Italy), for the first time, were screened and a total of 50 patients (age 58±5 years) were studied. Hypercortisolism was diagnosed by unsuppressed serum cortisol levels after 2 day low dose dexamethasone suppression test.RESULTS:
Among the 50 postmenopausal women studied, 3 had SH. This prevalence was 6%. The three patients with SH had a normal bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine and were osteopenic at femoral neck, and presented one or more vertebral fractures at spinal radiography.CONCLUSIONS:
Physicians should always consider SH among the causes of bone fragility, especially in individuals with vertebral fractures and the presence of an only slightly reduced BMD.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Bone and Bones
/
Hydrocortisone
/
Bone Density
/
Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal
/
Cushing Syndrome
/
Fractures, Bone
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci
Journal subject:
FARMACOLOGIA
/
TOXICOLOGIA
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy