A case report: pregnancy-induced severe osteoporosis with eight vertebral fractures

Abstract

Osteoporosis associated with pregnancy and lactation is a rare condition. The prevalence, etiology and its pathogenesis is unknown. It causes one or more vertebral fractures with severe, prolonged back pain and height loss in affected women. Majority of the cases are seen in the third trimester or just after delivery in primagravid women. In this case report, a 30-year-old woman who had severe pregnancy-induced osteoporosis with 8 vertebral fractures was presented. During last month of her first pregnancy she had moderate back pain. After delivery, the back pain has gotten worse. The radiological examinations have shown that there was 50% in T₆, T₈ and T₁₀; 30% in L₂; 20% in L₁ height loss and biconcave vertebral images in L_3–5. In the bone mineral density, L_2–4 T score was −4.7 and total femoral T score was −3.1. There was no abnormality in the laboratory findings except mild elevation in alkaline phosphates. Although pregnancy-associated osteoporosis is a rare condition, when pain occurs in the last trimester or early postpartum period, it should be considered in differential diagnosis.