[Osteoporosis. Current advances in etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy. I.--Etiopathogenesis and diagnosis]

Throughout life, bone is a tissue continuously remodelled with processes of bone formation followed by resorption. Osteoporosis, a social disease, is characterized by an unbalance of these processes with prevalence of resorption over neoformation. Numerous risk factors may cause or favour this disease. The classification of different types of osteoporosis is presented and the etiopathogenesis and clinical pattern of involutional and secondary osteoporosis are described. We have at our disposal a variety of diagnostic procedures which are also useful for prevention and management.