A cotwin control study of the relationship between hip osteoarthritis and bone mineral density

Abstract

This twin study confirms the existence of an inverse relationship between OA and OP at the hip. However, the relationship was localized to the OA-affected hip. The generalized and greater increase in BMD in osteoarthritic subjects seen in previous studies of unrelated populations is therefore likely to be due, in part, to genetic factors shared by hip OA and high bone mass. It also suggests that local changes in bone density may be a component of the disease process in hip OA.