Osteopenia and inflammation in postmenopausal women
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1
Università degli studi dell'Aquila, Italy
Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by low bone mass and increased bone fragility, putting patients at risk of fractures. Osteoporosis is currently attributed to various endocrine, metabolic and mechanical factors. However, emerging clinical and molecular evidences suggest that inflammation also exerts significant influence on bone turnover, inducing osteoporosis. A shift towards an activated immune profile has been hypothesized as important risk factor, even in the absence of a manifest autoimmune, rheumatic or inflammatory disease. Subclinical chronic inflammation may be a determinant pathogenetic factor. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD), evaluated by calcanear ultrasonography and/or dual x-ray absorptiometry, expressed as T-score, and serological markers of inflammation, such as C reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), autoantibodies (rheumatoid factor-RF, antinuclear antibodies-ANA, anti-thyroid peroxydase-TPO, and vitamin D levels, in 341 postmenopausal women (mean age 64) without overt diseases. The study sample included 101women with T-score into the normal range and 240 with osteopenia/osteoporosis. None of them were taking osteoporosis inducing drugs. CRP and ESR mean levels were significantly higher in osteopenic/osteoporotic compared to control women (9 and 32 vs 5 and 19 respectively). Serum autoantibodies were present in 27% of women with T-score<-1,5 and 23% of controls. Vitamin D levels in postmenopausal women were lower than controls (21ng/mL and 26 ng/mL respectively). These data support the view that inflammation significantly contributes to the aetiopathogenesis of osteoporosis.
Keywords:
Osteoporosis,
Inflammation,
postmenopausal women,
bone mineral density,
Autoantibodies,
Vitamin D
Conference:
15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013.
Presentation Type:
Abstract
Topic:
Immune-mediated disease pathogenesis
Citation:
Ciccarelli
F,
De Martinis
M and
Ginaldi
L
(2013). Osteopenia and inflammation in postmenopausal women.
Front. Immunol.
Conference Abstract:
15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI).
doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.00209
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Received:
13 Mar 2013;
Published Online:
22 Aug 2013.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Fedra Ciccarelli, Università degli studi dell'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy, fedra_84@hotmail.it