OSTEOPOROSIS-OSTEOMALACIA

SUMMARY

1. Osteomalacia is a condition of demineralized bone, which occasionally presents with hypocalcemia. It is most commonly caused by vitamin D deficiency (called rickets when it occurs in youth).

2. Definition: defective mineralization of calcium or phosphate of bone osteoid (Fitzgerald, 2014). Decreased mineral:organic component ratio but normal bone density.

3. In adults, know that bilateral symmetric pseudofractures establish the diagnosis.

4. The usual cause of vitamin D deficiency is inadequate intake of vitamin D and/or malabsorption.

5. Studies link vitamin D deficiency with falls, fractures, increased risk of cancer, and CHD.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].