Which disease is characterized by softening or increased porosity of bones, common in postmenopausal women?

• A. Osteoporosis
• B. Rickets
• C. Osteoarthritis
• D. Paget disease

Answer: (A)

Softening or increased porosity of bones in postmenopausal women is osteoporosis. This condition happens when bone resorption outpaces bone formation, leading to lower bone density and more fragile bones. After menopause, the drop in estrogen reduces the regulation of osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone, so bones become less dense over time. This makes common fractures, especially in the spine, hip, and wrist, more likely. A key way we assess it is with a bone density test (DEXA); a significantly low density supports the diagnosis.

Rickets involves faulty bone mineralization in growing children, not primarily a density loss seen in older adults. Osteoarthritis is a joint disease from wear and tear, affecting cartilage rather than bone density. Paget disease features abnormal, disorganized bone remodeling that makes bones thick and deformable, not simply porous bone due to aging.