[Glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis in childhood: prophylaxis and treatment].

Bone turnover rate during growth is extremely rapid. Bone growth is under the control of various hormonal environments. Long term administration of glucocorticoid in childhood induced not only osteoporosis but also growth failure via direct action on bone and cartilage and indirectly via hormonal derangements. Sex steroid is one of the important hormones for the bone mineral accrual and for cartilage maturation. Thus glucocorticoid usage during puberty resulted in irreversible effect on bone health including bone growth and peak bone mass accrual. Recently bisphosphonates have been widely used in prophylaxis and treatment of the steroid induced osteoporosis in adult with large amount of evidences, which is largely unknown for the pediatric patients.