Postpartum depression co-occurring with lactation-related osteoporosis

Postpartum depression may present with somatic complaints. However, all somatic symptoms do not indicate a possible depression diagnosis. One of the clinical pictures related to physical complaints is osteoporosis in late pregnancy and lactation (PLO); this is a rare disorder, and its pathophysiology remains unknown.

The authors report here a case of PLO and depression in a 35-year-old primiparous patient with acute low back pain and postpartum depression 4 weeks after caesarean section.

Diagnosis was made by DXA scan and magnetic resonance imaging. Depression was assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

The patient achieved pain relief through treatment with calcium, vitamin D, calcitonin, weekly alendronate, and venlafaxine for depression.

PLO and depression may have a common etiopathogenesis that needs further investigation.