Morphological and morphometric changes of bone tissue in patients with osteoporosis and osteomalation

Abstract

Bone tissue was studied in 56 postmenopausal women (mean age 62.30 ± 2.74 years), of which 46 patients who worked in unfavorable working conditions had a decreased bone mineral density (BMD) (osteoporosis (OP) — in 31 women, osteomalacia (OM) — in 13); 10 women had no metabolic changes in bone tissue (BT). A BT scan fragment was obtained during surgery for a fracture of the femoral neck. Non-decalcified QD sections were prepared, the functional activity of the QD cell nuclei was determined using the method of differential staining of nuclei with different functional activity. Morphological changes in OP and OM have both common features and differences. The common is the thinning of the bone rods, the expansion of the canals of osteons, the presence of cell-free areas, and cell-free lacunae. In contrast to OP, OM presents with the thickness and area of the osteoid increase, a less pronounced decrease in oxyphyllin matrix, a higher functional activity of BT cells. A decrease in BMD and the occurrence of low-energy fractures may result not only from OP but also OM. When prescribing treatment, it is necessary to carry out diffe-rential diagnostic measures that determine the cause of the decrease in bone mass.