Idiopathic transient osteoporosis

Idiopathic transient osteoporosis usually occurs as a result of other medical conditions. It has been found inpregnancy, in blood problems (abnormalities of fibrinolysis) and with NO known laboratory cause.

The condition is usually associated with pain in the hip. In at least one case, there was also involvement of the knee.

What is of real interest is that the condition usually resolves on its own. If you want to review some research on this condition check out the following:

Research studies

  1. One of the earliest studies was published in 1973 in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

    The authors were T. PANTAZOPOULOS; E. EXARCHOU; G. HARTOFILAKIDIS-GAROFALIDIS.

    These authors studied nine osteoporosis patients presenting with pain in the hip, slight limitation of motion whose condition resolved spontaneously after a few months.You can find an ABSTRACT of this article and a link to the complete article (in PDF format) at Ideopathic transient Osteoporosis at Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery

  2. In 1987 The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery published an article by researchers at Rambam Medical Center in Hairfa, Isreal:

    Idiopathic transient osteoporosis of the hip by LZ Shifrin, ND Reis, H Zinman, and MI Besser, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.

    ABSTRACT:

    We have reviewed 11 patients with idiopathic transient osteoporosis of the hip; the six who were women all developed the condition during pregnancy. Both simultaneous and sequential bilateral involvement were seen, but biochemical studies were consistently normal and one synovial biopsy showed only non-specific inflammation. Radioisotope bone scans and CT scans were useful to aid diagnosis. Treatment by limiting weight-bearing relieved symptoms, and spontaneous resolution was paralleled by radiographic remineralisation, usually within a few months. One patient developed a stress fracture of the hip and other areas of transient osteoporosis. A hip involved by the condition should be protected from overloading until bone density has recovered.

  3. The Journal of Hematology published another study in 1993 by decreased fibrinolytic potential in patients with idiopathic avascular necrosis and transient osteoporosis of the hip by Peter J. Van Veldhuizen1, Dr. James Neff2, Mark D. Murphey, David Bodensteiner1 and Dr. Barry S. Skikne1.

    ABSTRACT

    A thrombotic etiology has been suggested as the cause of idiopathic avascular necrosis of the hip, although the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are unknown. Transient osteoporosis of the hip has also been suggested to represent bone marrow edema that may be related to ischemia. We evaluated four patients with idiopathic avascular necrosis and one patient with transient osteoporosis of the hip for thrombotic potential placing a special emphasis on the fibrinolytic system. All five patients had identifiable abnormalities of fibrinolysis. Four patients had elevated levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and one patient had an inadequate increase in tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) post venous occlusion. Serum triglycerides were increased in three of the patients. These findings suggest an association between decreased fibrinolytic potential and the subsequent development of avascular necrosis and transient osteoporosis of the hip. These patients should have an evaluation of the fibrinolytic system with tPA and PAI-1 levels as well as a lipid profile.

  4. And in 2009 the Arch Osteoporosis published an article by reseaerchers from Jordan titled: Male transient hip osteoporosis: are physicians at a higher risk?
If you have been diagnosed with Idiopathic transient osteoporosis you can be encouraged by the fact that is usually resolves itself in a few months time.

If you have pain, do discuss this with your health care provider. If the condition does not resolve within a few months, do return to your health care provider for additional consultation, testing and/or treatment. It could be that some other condition is causing your pain and discomfort.

Go to Causes of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis other than Idiopathic transient osteoporosis

Go to Natural Treatments Osteopenia, Osteoporosis

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