[Osteoporosis in men. Pathogenesis and clinical classification of 254 cases]

In a prospective study, 321 consecutive male patients, aged between 16 and 86 years, referred to the Department of Medicine of the Medical Centre at Leverkusen from many parts of Germany over a three-year period with the diagnosis of osteoporosis, underwent a standardized programme of clinical investigation: 254 (79%) were found to have the condition. The programme consisted of a detailed history, physical examination, a battery of laboratory tests, X-ray examination of the skeleton and osteodensitometry. Where, as a result, underlying disease or risk factors were suspected, further tests were performed. 98 patients (39%) were found by densitometric criteria to have preclinical, 156 (61%) manifest osteoporosis with one or more vertebral body fractures. There was no significant difference regarding bone density between the preclinical and manifest cases. 76 of the 254 (30%) patients had no detectable pathogenetic factors, i. e. their osteoporosis was classified as idiopathic (mean age 51 years), while as senile osteoporosis in 16 elderly patients (mean age 78 years). The remaining 162 patients had 286 risk factors within 24 different categories. Depending on duration, intensity and combination of these risk factors, the osteoporosis was classified as primary with few risk factors or as secondary osteoporosis of single or multiple aetiology (mean age of these three groups was 51, 56 and 52 years, respectively). The most important demonstrable risk factors were (in decreasing order of frequency) glucocorticoid treatment, alcohol consumption, smoking, hypogonadism, hypercalciuria, liver disease, Crohn's disease, low calcium nutrition, hyperthyroidism, physical inactivity, stomach operation and plasmacytoma.--This study indicates that if there is evidence of significant risk factors detailed bone densitometry should be performed so that any necessary treatment can be initiated early. If there is known osteoporosis, staging and exact analysis of risk factors is a precondition for any cause-oriented treatment.