Overview of pediatric bone problems and related osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a well-established clinical problem in adults. Osteoporosis in pediatrics, on the other hand, is a new and evolving area, with certain unique diagnostic and clinical challenges. Recently, there has been an increased awareness of osteoporosis in children, both as a primary problem due to genetic mutations and enzyme deficiencies, and as secondary to various diseases, medications, and lifestyle issues. In this review we discuss the common forms of osteoporosis, including candidate genes, mutations of which can lead to primary osteoporosis, the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of secondary bone loss, and possible ways of diagnosing, preventing, or treating these conditions. The purpose of the article is to provide a summary of our current knowledge of pediatric bone problems and to provide a basis for discussion of the most appropriate ways to detect, treat, or prevent such problems.