Table 4

Causes of Low Bone Mineral Density.

Inherited
Nutritional
Endocrine
Drugs
Other

Osteogenesis imperfecta
Malabsorption
Hypogonadism
Glucocorticoids
Multiple myeloma
Homocystinuria
Chronic liver disease
Hyperthyroidism
Anticonvulsants
Rheumatoid arthritis
Marfan's syndrome
Alcoholism
Hyperparathyroidism
Long-term heparin
Systemic mastocytosis
Hypophosphatasia
Calcium deficient diet
Cushing's syndrome
Excess thyroid
Immobilization

Vitamin D deficiency
Eating disorder
GnRH agonists


Low BMD may be the result of many medical disorders. There should be a high index of suspicion in all patients with low BMD for these types of contributing factors.

Lewiecki Clinical and Molecular Allergy 2004 2:9   doi:10.1186/1476-7961-2-9