Medical Conditions That Increase the Risk of Osteoporosis

Topic Overview

Certain diseases increase the risk of osteoporosis. They include those of the:

• Hormone (endocrine) system. Examples are Cushing's syndrome, hyperparathyroidism, and hyperthyroidism.
• Blood. These are called hematologic diseases. One example is leukemia.
• Soft tissues. These are called rheumatologic diseases. They include rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
• Stomach and intestines. These are called gastrointestinal diseases. They include malabsorption, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and chronic liver disease.

Other conditions that increase the risk for osteoporosis include those that reduce the amount of estrogen or testosterone in the body. One example is removing a woman's ovaries.