A familial risk profile for osteoporosis

Purpose: To describe genetic epidemiologic aspects of osteoporosis. Methods : 69 patients with osteoporosis were interviewed regarding personal and fam ily histories of osteoporosis and related fractures. Family history informa tion was obtained on 421 first degree and 748 second degree relatives. Resu lts: 45% of cases reported a family history of osteoporosis. Familial cases were characterized neither by an earlier age of diagnosis nor by a greater degree of phenotypic severity. Empiric risks for osteoporosis were highest for mothers, 33%, and were 19% for sisters. Conclusion: These results prov ide an initial genetic epidemiologic profile for osteoporosis and informati on useful for genetic counseling.