Circulatory changes associated with osteolytic and osteoblastic reactions in bone. The possible mechanism involved in massive osteolysis an experimental study.

Abstract

Osseous tissue, as is well known, does not remain static. It is constantly undergoing absorption and replacement. The process probably depends on a balanced activity between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, a chemical balance between Ca and P, changes in lymph or blood flow, and/or upon some other unknown cause. When there are still such gaps in our knowledge of the physiological production and absorption of bone, it is quite evident that there must be considerably more uncertainty as to the exact mechanism involved in pathologic states, when new bone is formed or old bone is resorbed. Osteolysis has been found associated with a great variety of conditions, including infections, trauma, tumors, hyperparathyroidism, gout, the reticuloses, scleroderma, leprosy, syringomyelia, and tabes (the Charcot joint). In addition to the foregoing, however, there is a strange, very rare, type of osteolysis which is characterized by the complete disappearance of one or more bones. Occasional