• Made available online as an Accepted Preprint 24 February 2009
  • Accepted Preprint first posted online on 24 February 2009

Bone loss in inflammatory disorders

  1. M S Cooper
  1. School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
  1. (Correspondence should be addressed to M S Cooper who is now at Endocrinology, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK; Email: m.s.cooper{at}bham.ac.uk)

Abstract

Chronic inflammatory diseases of almost any cause are associated with bone loss. Bone loss is due to direct effects of inflammation, poor nutrition, reduced lean body mass, immobility and the effects of treatments, especially glucocorticoids. These mechanisms are complex and interrelated but are ultimately mediated through effects on the bone remodelling cycle. Inflammatory disease can increase bone resorption, decrease bone formation but most commonly impacts on both of these processes resulting in an uncoupling of bone formation from resorption in favour of excess resorption. This review will illustrate these interactions between inflammation and bone metabolism and discuss how these are, and might be, manipulated as therapies for inflammation related bone loss.

  • Received in final form 16 February 2009
  • Accepted 24 February 2009
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