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Corticosteroid-Induced Osteopenia
Theodore J. Hahn, MD
Arch Intern Med. 1978;138(Suppl 5):882-885.
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| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings. |
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Since the original description of Cushing's syndrome, it has been recognized that the prolonged maintenance of supraphysiologic levels of corticosteroids can produce severe bone loss.1,2 Studies of patients with Cushing's syndrome have demonstrated that the great majority (80% to 90%) have greatly decreased bone mass, as determined by radiological and histological criteria.2,3 Moreover, loss of bone mass occurs in a characteristic distribution; more severe osteopenia occurs in skeletal regions, such as the ribs and vertebrae, that have a high content of trabecular bone and less severe changes occur in areas such as the long bones, which are comprised primarily of compact cortical bone.1-3 As a consequence, vertebral compression and rib fractures occur commonly in this disorder.
EFFECTS OF CORTICOSTEROIDS ON BONE
Based on these observations, it is not surprising that prolonged therapeutic administration of supraphysiologic doses of corticosteroids or corticotropin often produces clinically substantial bone loss. Many
. . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]
Author Affiliations
From the Division of Bone and Mineral Metabolism, Washington University School of Medicine and The Jewish Hospital of St Louis, St Louis.
Footnotes
Read before the Upjohn Co, Kalamazoo, Mich, Nov 2, 1976.
Reprint requests to Division of Bone and Mineral Metabolism, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S Kingshighway Blvd, St Louis, MO 63110 (Dr Hahn).
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