Montagnani M, Gennari C
Cattedra di Fisiopatologia Clinica, Università degli Studi di Siena.
Minerva Med. 1991 Jan-Feb;82(1-2):1-8.
Osteopenia is a condition of reduced bone mineral content including osteoporosis, characterised by a reduced bone mass but normal mineral composition of bone tissue, and osteomalacia, characterised by unchanged bone mass but a deficient level of calcification of the protein matrix. Both conditions possess multifactorial etiopathogeneses and may affect the skeleton as a generalised or local manner, thus creating syndromes of circumscribed osteomalacia (osteomalacia of the patella, of the jaw). In some cases of local osteopenia, genetic, ethnic, dietary (inadequate intake of calcium, vitamin D), behavioural (abuse of smoking, coffee or alcohol), mechanical (reduced muscular exercise) and jatrogenic factors can play an important pathogenetic role. The definition of the exact nature of osteopenia (osteoporosis or osteomalacia), now possible using instrumental and laboratory tests, and the identification of the pathogenetic factors involved enable a correct therapy to be commenced.
骨质减少是一种骨矿物质含量降低的情况，包括骨质疏松症（其特征为骨量减少但骨组织矿物质组成正常）和骨软化症（其特征为骨量不变但蛋白质基质钙化水平不足）。这两种情况都具有多因素病因，并且可能以全身性或局部性方式影响骨骼，从而产生局限性骨软化症综合征（髌骨、颌骨的骨软化症）。在某些局部骨质减少的病例中，遗传、种族、饮食（钙、维生素D摄入不足）、行为（过度吸烟、喝咖啡或饮酒）、机械（肌肉运动减少）和医源性因素可发挥重要的致病作用。现在通过仪器和实验室检查有可能明确骨质减少的确切性质（骨质疏松症或骨软化症），并且识别所涉及的致病因素能够开始正确的治疗。
