CMT and Osteoporosis

[Guest guest]

I wanted to post the following since the topic came up about it last week and I

decided to

do some research on it. This is from the MDA website:

SUBJ (11/02): DECREASING RISK OF OSTEOPOROSIS

I am a 59-year-old female diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). With

the

recent news about the lack of benefit and risks of hormone replacement therapy

(HRT), I

have concerns about the prevalence of osteoporosis for women with CMT. My mother

who

had CMT had severe osteoporosis and I understand that women with CMT are more

prone

to osteoporosis. That was one of the reasons several years ago that I decided to

take the

hormone replacement therapy. Now my gynecologist is recommending that I stop

HRT. I

wonder if you are aware of any research on other available products that might

lower the

risk of osteoporosis in women with CMT?

REPLY [1] from MDA: Stanley B. Holstein, M.D., MDA Clinic Director, New

Rochelle, NY

There are reports of neuropathy associated with osteoporosis. Diabetic

neuropathy

resulted in a 12 percent reduction in bone mineral density of the distal limb of

patients

(Diabetic Medicine 1995, 12:874). Another report showed osteoporosis of the

metaphysial

line of the bones of the foot (ls Medicine Interne 1979, 130:219). Although

these

studies refer to diabetic neuropathy, it is possible to relate osteoporosis to

the neuropathy

of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) as well. Possible mechanisms may include

reduced

activity and weight bearing or neuropathic trophic factors that may be needed

for bone

mineralization. In any case, other treatment options include the biophosphonate

alandronate (Fosomax) or raloxifene (Evista) as stated in the recent article in

JAMA 2002,

288:100