Glucocorticoids and osteoposis – a review

Abstract

Osteoposis is characterized as a bone density reduction disease mediated by the osteoclasts’ activity’s augmentation and a fall or change in the osteoblasts’ and osteocytes’ functions, compromising the bone’s homeostasis and promoting risk the of fractures. High doses of glucocorticoids associated to its extended use in various disorders’ treatment, because of its antiinflammatory action, will incite secundary osteoporosis, or glucocorticoids-induced osteoporosis. Imaging diagnosis methods, such as the radiological ones, and the laboratory examinations, such as the biochemical and the hormonal ones, are tools in the follow up work and in the prevention of glucocorticoids’ treatment, in order to diminish catabolic effects from glucocorticoids-induced osteoporosis. Vitamin D and calcium treatment has presented good results in the glucocorticoids-induced osteoporosis’s treatment by reducing bone reabsorption and increasing the bone’s formation. Biphosphonates have presented more effect in the inhibition of the bone reabsorption’s process when compared to the vitamin D’s treatment. Nevertheless, both treatments must be administered along with the calcium’s supplement. Calcitonin, estrogen and fluoride intake are palliative treatments.