Update: A 55-Year-Old Woman With Osteopenia
- Anna A. Mattson-DiCecca, BA;
- Eileen E. Reynolds, MD;
- Jen R. Cummings, MD
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
- KEYWORDS:
- AGING
- BONE DENSITY
- BONE DISEASES, METABOLIC
- DRUG THERAPY
- EXERCISE
- FRACTURES, BONE
- OSTEOPOROSIS
- POSTMENOPAUSAL HORMONE THERAPY
- PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
- RISK FACTORS
- SPINAL FRACTURES
- VITAMIN D
- WOMEN'S HEALTH
In a December 2006 Clinical Crossroads article,1 Steven R. Cummings, MD, discussed a 55-year-old woman with low bone mineral density (BMD). Ms Q had her first BMD study in 2000, when her T score was −1.4 at the spine and −0.6 at the total hip. Having taken postmenopausal hormone therapy for breast cancer risk reduction since 1999, as was the practice until trials demonstrated that it had the opposite effect,2 she continued taking daily estrogen and medroxyprogesterone acetate. In 2001, Ms Q began to experience trouble with her balance. A neurological examination revealed that she had had several tiny strokes. An evaluation revealed a small atrial septal defect and a weakly positive test for antiphospholipid antibody. As a result, Ms Q discontinued hormone therapy, was prescribed dose-adjusted warfarin, and began physical therapy; her next neurological examination result was normal. Ms Q had BMD testing in 2003 and again …
