Secondary liver osteoporosis

Abstract

Introduction: Liver diseases, in particular the chronic one, directly and/or indirect alter bone metabolism and composition. Osteopenia and osteoporosis develop, which are generically called hepatic osteodystrophy. Therefore, an assessment of bone metabolism, of the risk factors of hepatic osteodystrophy and bone mineral density measurement are recommended in patients with chronic liver disease. An early diagnosis of hepatic osteodystrophy is essential for the correction of the modifiable risk factors that predispose to bone loss and for the prevention of the fragility fractures. Purpose and objectives: Was to perform a comparative study of bone mineral composition and of its changes at different stages of postnatal ontogenetic development in physiological conditions and experimental hepatic osteoporosis. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on a sample of 60 white laboratory rats of both sexes without pedigree. The animals were divided according to their age in 3 groups, each one consisted of 2 subgroups - control and with secondary liver osteoporosis. The amount of calcium, phosphate, magnesium, zinc and copper was determined in the bone. Results and discussion: The results analysis show that under physiological conditions the ontogenetic changes of bone mineral content is considerably influenced by gender: at the initial ontogenetic stages the mineral elements content is higher in females compared to males. We determined that experimental liver osteoporosis induced by long term CCL intoxication is characterized by a relative conservation of bone apatite cardinal elements - calcium and phosphate, content at all ontogenetic stages. At the same time, the level mineral regulatory, osteotrope elements (magnesium, zinc and copper) was more sensitive and were significant differences between animals at various ontogenetic stages. Conclusion: Preservation of calcium, phosphate and sulphate in secondary liver osteoporosis reveals a significant degree of tissue adaptation to CCL action oriented to maintenance of the hardness, resilience and functionality of bone. The content of these minerals is closely related due to the ability of the negatively charged sulfates to fix the labile fraction of bone calcium and thus maintain its functional accessible reserve of the tissue. This particular reserve is used to restore the normal apatite crystal lattice during the bone remodeling processes and the processes of recovery of bone mineral composition in various pathological conditions.