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MORPHOMETRIC AND DYNAMIC STUDIES OF BONE CHANGES IN HYPERTHYROIDISM
Author(s) -
Melsen Flemming,
Mosekilde Leif
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
acta pathologica microbiologica scandinavica section a pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0365-4184
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1977.tb00411.x
Subject(s) - osteoid , cortical bone , cancellous bone , iliac crest , bone resorption , endocrinology , medicine , calcification , chemistry , resorption , anatomy
Bone biopsies were performed after tetracycline double‐labelling by transfixing the right iliac crest in forty hyperthyroid patients. The bone changes in cortical and trabecular bone were determined by simple measurement and point counting on decalcified and undecalcified stained sections. A slight decrease in the amount of cancellous bone was found. The mean cortical width was normal. The amount of osteoid and the length of the osteoid seams were increased, whereas the mean width of osteoid seams was decreased. The cortical osteoclastic activity and porosity were markedly increased. The trabecular osteoclastic activity was moderately increased and the mean size of periosteocytic lacunae was slightly increased. The calcification rate in cancellous bone was increased as were the active calcification surfaces (tetracycline‐labelled). The osteoclastic activity in cortical bone was positively correlated to the free thyroxine index and to the urinary calcium and phosphorus excretion. The findings indicate that the bone changes in hyperthyroidism are specific and that thyroid hormone(s) stimulates both bone formation and resorption followed by increased porosity in cortical bone and by mobilization of bone mineral.