RAREFYING DISEASE OF THE SKELETON 387 



The object of this communication is to ( 1 ) siilimit observations 

 on 5-year follow-up examinations of 100 women with an a^'erage age 

 of 85; (2) add two cases of osteoporosis to six cases previously re- 

 ported and intensively studied by correlated methods; (3) analyze 

 the literature of the period between 1961 and 1963 and some pre- 

 vious articles that lend support to current research work. Articles 

 appearing between 1957 and 1961 (Urist et al, 1962; Urist, 1962) 

 and reviews of previous years have already been discussed in detail 

 (Vincent and Urist, 1961; Gordan, 1961; Fraser, 1962; Moon and 

 Urist, 1962). 



Case Material and Results 



Case No. 7 



Bl. S., a childless housewife, 67 years of age, had severe backache 

 for a period of 3 vears. The condition began when she lifted a chair, 

 experienced sharp pain in the low back, and was found to have 

 spontaneous collapse of two vertebrae. The pain subsided after treat- 

 ment with a corset and sex hormones for 9 months. One year later, 

 she had another attack of backache associated with spontaneous 

 fractures of the lower dorsal spine. The response to the treatment 

 was unsatisfactory. The past history was interesting in that the pa- 

 tient was treated for anemia for 8 years. She lost 15 pounds and 1 

 inch in height in a period of 1 year. Physical examination revealed 

 a flattening of the dorsal and lumbar spinal curves, and deep cir- 

 cumferential skin folds between the costal margin and iliac crests. 

 Radiographs showed old compression fractures of the 7th, 9th, and 

 11th dorsal, and 1st, 2nd, and 4th lumbar vertebrae; intervertebral 

 discs between the unfractured segments were ballooned and the 

 cortex was everywhere thin (Figs. lA to IC). The results of labora- 

 tory studies were as follows: sternal marrow cytologv was negative 

 for mveloma cells; hemoglobin, 11.0 gm %; sedimentation rate, 40 

 mm/hr. (Wintrobe); white blood cells and differential counts were 

 normal; serum protein 6.9, albumin 3.7, and globulin 3.2 gm % with 

 AG ratio of 1.1; protein-bound iodine, 5.7 mg %; serologic tests for 

 syphilis were negative; cholesterol, 262 mg 7c; serum calcium, 11.0 

 mg 7c; inorganic phosphorus, 3.5 mg %; alkaline phosphatase, 8.2 



