O STEOSCLEROSIS associated with chronic fluoride exposure is well documented.1,2 Sodium fluoride has been used experimentally in the treatment of Paget's disease of bone, osteogenesis imperfecta, multiple myeloma, and osteoporosis.3-7 Clinical and metabolic results have been obtained in these patients but detailed microscopic data on the effects of fluoride treatment on the bone have not been reported.
The present report describes a patient with ulcerative colitis and hepatic cholangiolitis who was treated with corticosteroids with subsequent appearance of osteoporosis and vertebral body collapse. Sodium fluoride therapy was instituted for the osteoporosis and because of the active ulcerative colitis and liver disease, the patient was continued on corticosteroids. The present study was undertaken to obtain clinical, metabolic, and histologic data on this patient who was treated simultaneously with sodium fluoride and corticosteroids.
Report of a Case
A 63-year-old, married, white female (SMH 13-15-97) entered the hospital because of diarrhea