Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by decreased bone density (less than 2.5), low bone mass, and bone fragility. During osteoporosis, there is a decrease in bone mass per unit volume, a change in the composition and quantity of organic fill (matrix) proteins, and the amount of the fill (matrix) itself is significantly lower than normal. This disease is also called the “silent epidemic” because bone thinning itself goes unnoticed. Symptoms only appear as the disease progresses: pain, bone fractures even with minor trauma. It most commonly affects older people, especially women. In Europe, one in four women and one in twenty men over 60 have experienced bone fractures due to osteoporosis. Changes in human bones are constantly occurring: resorption and formation of new bone tissue. Formation processes are more active than resorption in childhood and adolescence, so bones grow, strengthen, and become denser until the age of 30. In older people, resorption occurs faster than renewal, leading to a loss of bone mass and the onset of osteoporosis. In women, the onset of menopause or hormonal changes during menopause can influence the risk of disease, leading to a loss of up to 15% of bone mass. A decreased level of estrogen activates blood monocytes, which secrete more IL-1. It is the most well-known potential activator of osteoclast activity. When activated, they break down and resorb the organic part of the bone. At the same time, compensatory activation of osteoblasts occurs, but it is insufficient to maintain balance in the processes, leading to a decrease in bone mass. However, young people can also suffer from this disease. Depending on the causes, osteoporosis is divided into primary and secondary. Primary, or senile, osteoporosis is characteristic of older individuals of both genders, but women are affected several times more often. Secondary osteoporosis can be caused by various factors: thyroid, kidney, lung, intestinal, genetic diseases. Sometimes it is caused by medications used for other diseases.

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė