Doubling skeletal mass during adult life: the syndrome of diffuse osteosclerosis after intravenous drug abuse

Abstract

A former intravenous substance abuser, seropositive for hepatitis C virus infection, was referred for diffuse osteosclerosis. There was no history of fracture or skeletal deformity. Cortical and trabecular bone density was approximately twice the mean value for controls. Skeletal histology revealed dense lamellar bone. Recognized causes of acquired generalized osteosclerosis or hyperostosis were excluded. This patient verifies the syndrome of painful diffuse osteosclerosis after intravenous drug abuse and shows that skeletal mass can be markedly increased with histologically normal, structurally sound bone during adult life. Elucidation of the etiology and pathogenesis could offer an effective treatment for osteoporosis.