Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis in childhood is uncommon, and it may be secondary to a spectrum of diverse conditions. When such causes have been excluded, some patients remain who have a congenital disease (osteoporosis imperfecta) or a disease in which the etiology is obscure, called idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis (IJO). The cause of IJO is unknown, and the diagnosis is based both on the exclusion of other diseases and on its own positive fractures. The basic strategy of treatment is to protect the spine until remission occurs. Sex steroids are contraindicated. Bisphosphonates, calcitriol, fluoride, and calcitonin have been administered therapeuticlly, but the results were equivocal. Usually the disease remits by itself.