[Calcium-phosphorus metabolism and bone metabolism in postmenopausal patients with the thyroid gland pathology]

Bone metabolism markers (bone alkaline phosphatase, ionized calcium, inorganic phosphorus, serum osteocalcin) and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline, Ca2+ and P after overnight fasting and of creatinine were studied in 52 female patients with endemic goiter and hypothyrosis (18 of these with decompensated hypothyrosis, 34 treated with thyroid hormones) and 48 women without thyroid diseases aged 45-60 years with menopause of no longer than 10 years (6.4 +/- 0.43 years). Clinical and x-ray examinations were carried out in all women; hormonal status, basal serum levels of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin were evaluated. A trend to deceleration of bone remodeling was detected in the patients with untreated hypothyrosis in comparison with women without thyroid disease. Signs of increased bone resorption were detected in patients with endemic goiter and hypothyrosis receiving substitute hormone therapy; this gave grounds to refer patients of menopausal age with endemic goiter and hypothyrosis treated with oral thyroxin for a long time to a group at a high risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures and to start preventive osteotropic therapy from the first day of substitute thyroid hormone therapy.