Research description
Osteoporosis and bone growth failure in chronic paediatric diseases
The overall aim of these studies is to address unanswered core bone health questions such as osteoporosis/bone growth failure in the paediatric patients with chronic diseases and exposed to high dose glucocorticoid therapy. Some 20% of paediatric patients treated with GCs experience multiple peripheral fractures, bone pain and vertebral compression fractures. We are currently investigating following disorders in which GCs are frequently used:
- Inflammation
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
Impaired bone health is often present at diagnosis in these disorders, but poorly understood Severe osteoporosis is a frequent finding 1-3 years post diagnosis. Understanding the pathophysiology of disordered bone health/osteoporosis following glucocorticoids treatement in chronic conditions such as ALL, inflammation and DMD will lead to development of better treatment strategies in affected children. We are also investigating novel molecules/peptides in combination with GCs to prevent osteoporosis and bone growth failure in infllamtion, ALL and DMD.