Maladiile hepatice, în special, cele cronice afectează direct sau/şi indirect metabolismul şi compoziţia ţesutului osos. Se dezvoltă osteopenia şi osteoporoza, care poartă denumirea de osteodistrofie hepatică. Condiţia are un mecanism complex de apariţie şi dezvoltare, care implică dereglări ale funcţiilor celulelor osoase, precum şi ale metabolismului fosfo-calcic, statutului hormonal (gonadotropinele, estrogenii, androgenii, paratiroidul), mecanismelor reglatoare locale (osteocalcina, sistemul osteoprotegerină/RANKL/RANK), nivelului vitaminelor (D şi K), etc. Fracturile de fragilitate cresc semnificativ mortalitatea. Prin urmare, o evaluare a metabolismului osos, a factorilor de risc ai osteodistrofiei hepatice şi evaluarea densităţii minerale osoase sunt recomandate pacienţilor cu boli hepatice cronice. Un diagnostic precoce al osteodistrofiei hepatice este esenţial pentru a corecta factorii de risc modificabili care predispun la pierderea masei osoase şi prevenirea fracturilor de fragilitate.

Liver diseases, especially, the chronic ones, directly or/and indirectly affect bone metabolism and composition. Osteopenia and osteoporosis, which are generically called hepatic osteodystrophy, may develop. The condition has a complex mechanism in occurrence and development involving disorders of bone cell function and calcium-phosphorus metabolism, hormonal status (gonadotropins, estrogens, androgens, parathyroid),local regulatory mechanisms(osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin/RANKL/RANK system), vitamin levels (D and K), etc. Fragility fractures significantly increase mortality. Therefore, an assessment of bone metabolism, risk factors of hepatic osteodystrophy and bone mineral density is recommended in patients with chronic liver disease. An early diagnosis of hepatic osteodystrophy is essential for the correction of modifiable risk factors that predispose to bone loss and prevention of fragility fractures.