Clinical features:
(1) The patient is a woman who is pregnant or lactating, often with the first child.
(2) The patient presents with bone pain, often involving the back.
(3) Imaging studies show the presence of fractures.
(4) Bone density studies show a low bone density in affected bone.
Clues to osteoporotic vertebral fracture (Topping et al):
(1) sudden onset of back pain in upper lumbar or in the thoracic spine
(2) failure of simple analgesia to relieve pain
(3) loss of height
Risk factors:
(1) low calcium diet
(2) low body weight for height
(3) poor general nutrition
(4) family history of osteoporosis
(5) medications associated with osteoporosis (corticosteroids, heparin, other)
(6) celiac disease
(7) osteogenesis imperfecta
Some women have no identifiable risk factors.
Most women with pregnancy-associated osteoporosis do not have a recurrence with future pregnancy due to treatment.
A woman with pregnancy or lactation associated osteoporosis is at risk for postmenopausal osteoporosis.
