Insight on the relationship between osteoporosis and osteoarthritis

ABSTRACT

In this study, we tried to investigate some of the factors that may have a role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis OA and osteoporosis OP, such as BMI, levels of estrogen, IGF-1 and bone mass density. We correlated all these parameters to find the relation between those two pathologic conditions. Forty postmenopausal females were studied, 20 with OP and 20 with OA. Our results showed a significant elevation of estrogen and IGF levels and BMD in OA group in relation to OP group. The mean BMI showed a significant increase in OA than OP. This inverse relation could be explained by the difference in growth factors and estrogen that stimulate bone formation. There is an inverse relationship between OA and OP. Thus OA might have a protective or retarding effect on the development of OP and could be a negative risk factor for OP. This could be an important element in determining patients who at risk developing OP and should take preventive therapy for OP at the time of menopause