Spontaneous multiple vertebral fractures revealed primary haemochromatosis

The association of haemochromatosis and bone disease is well established, but osteoporotic fracture is an unusual presentation of the disease. We describe a male patient with osteoporotic fractures as a presenting feature of haemochromatosis. The bone histomorphometry showed a dramatic decrease in trabecular bone volume associated with a decrease in cortical bone thickness. Osteoblastic and osteoclastic activities were reduced without any sign of osteomalacia. Staining for iron with Perl's stain showed focal localization at the interface between mineralized trabecular bone and bone marrow. This observation leads us to review the possible mechanisms of osteoporosis.