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. 2013 Aug 23;9(2):141–144. doi: 10.17925/EE.2013.09.02.141

Table 1: Causes of Osteoporosis in Children and Adolescents.

Primary Osteoporosis
Connective Tissue Disorders

  • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

  • Homocystinuria

  • Marfan’s syndrome

  • Osteogenesis imperfecta

  • Idiopathic (juvenile) osteoporosis

  • Rare genetic and hereditary disorders

Disorders that Put Children at Risk of Secondary Osteoporosis
Inflammatory Diseases

  • Juvenile idiopathic artritis

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus

  • Inflammatory bowel disease

Chronic Immobilisation

  • Cerebral palsy

  • Meningomyelocele

  • Myopathic diseases (e.g. Duchenne, spinal muscular atrophy)

Nutritional, Intestinal and Malabsorption Disorders

  • Coeliac disease and other malabsorption syndromes

  • Schwachman-Diamond disease

  • Cystic fibrosis

  • Malnutrition; vitamin and mineral deficiency

Haematologic Disorders

  • Leukaemia

  • Thalassaemia

Endocrine Disturbances

  • Growth hormone deficiency

  • Sex hormone deficiency (e.g. hypogonadism, Turner’s syndrome)

  • Hyperthyreosis

  • Cushing’s syndrome

  • Anorexia nervosa

Secondary to Therapies with Adverse Effects on Bone Health

  • Following chemotherapy for childhood malignancy

  • Following solid organ or bone marrow transplant

  • Glucocorticoids, anticonvulsants, heparin, calcineurin inhibitors

Chronic Kidney Disease
Cholestatic Liver Disease