Gestational osteoporosis: Myth or true?

Abstract

Gestational osteoporosis is an existent rare clinical disease presenting with vertebral fractures and is quite often underdiagnosed. Etiology is heterogeneous and risk factors include family history of osteoporosis, low body mass index individuals, women with low physical activity, smoking, failure to achieve maximum bone mass and low level calories nutrition. In our review, we recorded the main hormones and biological markers involved in bone metabolism during pregnancy and breastfeeding period. Regarding imaging methods, ultrasound and magnetic resonance are useful diagnostic tools and MRI can be used as a gold standard when examining hip pain in women who are in the third trimester of pregnancy. Available therapeutic approaches are recorded regarding conservative management and use of medication. The implication of our work is to emphasize the importance of early identification of gestational osteoporosis. Medical specialties dealing with women during pregnancy and postpartum (obstetricians, endocrinologists, orthopedists) should assess the risk factors and be able to make the right diagnosis as early as possible for prognosis optimization.