Bone mineral density and bone histomorphometric assessments of postpregnancy osteoporosis: a report of five patients.

Reports of five young women who developed vertebral fractures associated with pregnancy and lactation are presented (Fig. 1). Ages ranged from 24 to 37 (mean 30) years. All five patients have osteoporosis with two to nine vertebral fractures at presentation postpartum. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by single-photon absorptiometry, quantitative computer tomography, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. BMD of the trabecular bone was less than normal values and it remained apparently low even several years after pregnancy. Histological findings of bone biopsy identified the bone loss with increasing bone resorption. Our present findings suggest that postpregnancy osteoporosis affects mainly the trabecular bone site, and the patients might have low peak bone mass and poor reversibility probably due to a low rate of remodeling.