[Secondary osteoporosis. Disease-Related Osteoporosis in Children.].

Similarly to adult osteoporosis, childhood osteoporosis also is usually divided into primary and secondary causes. Primary osteoporosis includes genetic disorders represented by osteogenesis imperfecta. Secondary pediatric osteoporosis is associated with various diseases and glucocorticoid treatment, and malnutrition, impaired mobility, chronic inflammation and endocrine disorders can be risk factors. In growing children, mild osteoporosis can be spontaneously recovered by elimination of risk factors. However, initiation of treatment using drugs such as bisphosphonate should be considered in primary osteoporosis including osteogenesis imperfecta and severe secondary osteoporosis which cannot be spontaneously improved. Administration of bisphosphonate increased bone mineral density in pediatric patients, but long-term safety and efficacy need further investigation. Development of new drugs to treat osteogenesis imperfecta is underway, which include the antibodies against sclerostin and TGF-β.