TY  - JOUR
T1  - Beta thalassemia minor: a potential risk factor for osteopenia and osteoporosis
AU  - Woron, Felicia
AU  - Anderson, Thea
AU  - Hong, Catriona
AU  - Madhavan, Parvathy
Y1  - 2024///
JO  - Exploration of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases
VL  - 1
IS  - 5
SP  - 213
EP  - 217
DO  - 10.37349/eemd.2024.00017
UR  - https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eemd/Article/101417
AB  - A 74-year-old male patient with beta thalassemia minor presented in 2022 for a follow-up of osteoporosis diagnosed prior to 2004. At the time of presentation, his medical history included: radiation exposure to his head and neck, goiter, prostate cancer status post resection in 2019 without a history of anti-androgen therapy, and atrial fibrillation, for which he had been prescribed apixaban since 2021. Treatment with risedronate occurred from approximately 2004 to about 2011, with improvement in bone density to osteopenia. He had also taken vitamin D and calcium supplementation and engaged in regular weight-bearing exercise. The patient had no other known risk factors for decreased bone mineral density preceding the onset of his osteoporosis, and a previous workup for secondary causes of his osteoporosis etiology proved negative. We propose that beta thalassemia minor is potentially a risk factor for osteopenia and osteoporosis, and that bisphosphonates can be considered for management when therapeutic intervention is indicated. Even in the absence of other known risk factors, clinicians should consider periodically screening beta thalassemia minor patients with DXA for evaluation of bone health.
ER  -