Although much has been learned about the acute consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the chronic impact on human health is still largely unknown (). In addition to respiratory symptoms, general features such as fatigue, myalgias and joint pain may persist, usually associated with low-grade inflammation (). Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in its moderate to severe form can lead to a high mortality rate especially in vulnerable individuals such as the elderly, a subgroup of patients in whom common muscle-skeletal disorders frequently occur. […]

ABSTRACT Several drugs are available for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Over the last decades, most patients requiring pharmacological intervention were offered antiresorptive drugs as first-line therapy, while anabolic agents were considered a last resource for those with therapeutic failure. However, recent randomized trials in patients with severe osteoporosis have shown that anabolic agents reduce fractures to a greater extent than antiresorptive medications. Additionally, evidence indicates that increases in bone mineral density (BMD) are maximized when patients are […]

ABSTRACT The 2022 International Task Force guidelines for chronic hypoparathyroidism will be published within several months in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. These guidelines update the original guidelines published in 2016, and include new information from literature published since then. Chronic postsurgical hypoparathyroidism is now defined as lasting for at least 12 months after surgery, rather than 6 months. Chronic postsurgical hypoparathyroidism may be predicted by serum PTH

Abstract Energy metabolism is a point of integration among the various organs and tissues of the human body, not only in terms of consumption of energy substrates but also because it concentrates a wide interconnected network controlled by endocrine factors. Thus, not only do tissues consume substrates, but they also participate in modulating energy metabolism. Soft mesenchymal tissues, in particular, play a key role in this process. The recognition that high energy consumption is involved in bone remodeling has been […]

Abstract Obesity affects several areas of the human body, leading to increased morbidity and mortality and the likelihood of other diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and musculoskeletal disorders. These conditions predispose to bone fractures and sarcopenic obesity, defined by the presence of an obesity-associated decrease in muscle mass and strength. Both bone fragility and sarcopenic obesity disease are consequences of several factors, such as a low degree of chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, […]

Abstract Globally, one in 11 adults has diabetes mellitus of which 90% have type 2 diabetes. The numbers for osteoporosis are no less staggering: 1 in 3 women has a fracture after menopause, and the same is true for 1 in 5 men after the age of 50 years. Aging is associated with several physiological changes that cause insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion, which in turn lead to hyperglycemia. The negative balance between bone resorption and formation is a […]

ABSTRACT Hypoparathyroidism, despite the conventional therapy with calcium and active vitamin D, can lead to skeletal and nonskeletal abnormalities. Chronic hypoparathyroidism is associated with a significant reduction in bone remodeling, increases in areal and volumetric bone density, and improvement in trabecular microarchitecture and in trabecular bone score. Regardless of these advantages in bone mass and microarchitecture, recent data suggest an increased vertebral fracture risk in patients with nonsurgical hypoparathyroidism. Moreover, chronic hypoparathyroidism can lead to abnormalities in multiple organ systems, […]

ABSTRACT Hypoparathyroidism remains the single endocrine deficiency disease that is not habitually treated with the missing hormone. In this article, we aim to provide a review of the conventional approach and the novel therapies as well as an overview of the perspectives on the treatment of this rare condition. We conducted a literature review on the conventional therapy using vitamin D analogs and calcium salts, indications for thiazide diuretics and phosphorus binders, PTH analogs history and usage, and the drugs […]

Abstract Phosphorus is one of the most abundant minerals in the human body; it is required to maintain bone integrity and mineralization, in addition to other biological processes. Phosphorus is regulated by parathyroid hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) in a complex set of processes that occur in the gut, skeleton, and kidneys. Different molecular mechanisms – overproduction of FGF-23 by tumors responsible for oncogenic osteomalacia, generation of an FGF-23 mutant that is resistant to cleavage […]

ABSTRACT Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a newer phenotype of PHPT defined by elevated PTH concentrations in the setting of normal serum calcium levels. It is increasingly being diagnosed in the setting of evaluation for nephrolithiasis or metabolic bone diseases. It is important to demonstrate that PTH values remain consistently elevated and to measure ionized calcium levels to make the diagnosis. A diagnosis of normocalcemic disease is one of exclusion of secondary forms of hyperparathyroidism, including vitamin D deficiency, renal […]

ABSTRACT Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a hypercalcemic disorder that occurs when one or more parathyroid glands produces excessive parathyroid hormone (PTH). PHPT is typically treated with surgery, and it remains the only definitive therapy, whose techniques have evolved over previous decades. Advances in preoperative localization exams and the intraoperative PTH monitoring have become the cornerstones of recent parathyroidectomy techniques, as minimally invasive techniques are appropriate for most patients. Nevertheless, these techniques, are not suitable for PHPT patients who are at […]

ABSTRACT Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is an endocrine disorder resulting from the hyperfunction of one or more parathyroid glands, with hypersecretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH). It can be managed by parathyroidectomy (PTX) or non-surgically. Medical therapy with pharmacological agents is an alternative for those patients with asymptomatic PHPT who meet guidelines for surgery but are unable or unwilling to undergo PTX. In this review, we focus upon these non-surgical aspects of PHPT management. We emphasize the most studied and widely used […]

ABSTRACT Trabecular bone score (TBS) is an indirect and noninvasive measure of bone quality. A low TBS indicates degraded bone microarchitecture, predicts osteoporotic fracture, and is partially independent of clinical risk factors and bone mineral density (BMD). There is substantial evidence supporting the use of TBS to assess vertebral, hip, and major osteoporotic fracture risk in postmenopausal women, as well as to assess hip and major osteoporotic fracture risk in men aged > 50 years. TBS complements BMD information and […]

ABSTRACT Anabolic agents for the treatment of osteoporosis increase bone density, improve bone strength, and reduce fracture risk. They are distinguished from antiresorptive drugs by their property of increasing osteoblastic bone formation. Teriparatide and abaloparatide are parathyroid hormone receptor agonists that increase bone remodeling with bone formation increasing more than bone resorption. Romosozumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody to sclerostin that has a “dual effect” of increasing bone formation while decreasing bone resorption. The bone forming effects of anabolic therapy […]

ABSTRACT Denosumab (DMAb) is a human monoclonal antibody used as an antiresorptive drug in the treatment of osteoporosis. Approval at a dosage of 60 mg every 6 months was based on the results of the randomized, placebo-controlled trial (FREEDOM). The design of this 3-year study included an extension for up to 10 years. Those who were randomized to DMAb continued on drug, while those who were randomized to placebo transitioned to DMAb. The 10-year experience with DMAb provides data on […]

ABSTRACT It is now well recognized that over the lifetime of a patient with osteoporosis, more than one medication will be needed to treat the disease and to decrease fracture risk. Though current gaps in osteoporosis therapy can be potentially mitigated with sequential and combination regimens, how to move seamlessly amongst the multiple treatments currently available for osteoporosis for sustained efficacy is still unclear. Data from recent studies show that an anabolic agent such as teriparatide or romosozumab followed by […]

ABSTRACT Osteoporosis, a disease classically attributed to postmenopausal women, is underappreciated, underdiagnosed, and undertreated in men. However, it is not uncommon for osteoporotic fractures to occur in men. About 40% of fractures occur in men with an incidence that has increased over the years. After a first fracture, the risk of a subsequent episode, as well as the risk of death, is higher in the male than in the female population. Despite these facts, only 10% of men with osteoporosis […]

ABSTRACT Vitamin D deficiency is a general health problem affecting individuals at all stages of life and on different continents. The musculoskeletal effects of vitamin D are well known. Its deficiency causes rickets, osteomalacia, and secondary hyperparathyroidism and increases the risk of fractures. Clinical and experimental evidence suggests that vitamin D performs multiple extraskeletal functions. Several tissues unrelated to calcium and phosphate metabolism express vitamin D receptor (VDR) and are directly or indirectly influenced by 1,25(OH)2D (calcitriol). Some also express […]

Abstract Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by small intestinal inflammation triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically-predisposed individuals. A frequent extra-intestinal manifestation of CD is metabolic bone disease which contributes to an increased risk of fracture. The mechanisms underlying bone disease in CD remain incompletely understood, but multiple processes have been proposed including (1) malabsorption of calcium and vitamin D leading to secondary hyperparathyroidism and increased skeletal resorption, (2) pro-inflammatory cytokines altering the osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of […]

ABSTRACT Stress fractures (SF) represent 10%-20% of all injuries in sport medicine. An SF occurs when abnormal and repetitive loading is applied on normal bone: The body cannot adapt quickly enough, leading to microdamage and fracture. The etiology is multifactorial with numerous risk factors involved. Diagnosis of SF can be achieved by identifying intrinsic and extrinsic factors, obtaining a good history, performing a physical exam, and ordering laboratory and imaging studies (magnetic resonance imaging is the current gold standard). Relative […]