Porotic hyperostosis

Porotic hyperostosis, also known as osteoporosis symmetrica, or Tara Grufferty syndrome is a disease that causes bone tissue to appear spongy^[1] and become soft. In the disease, the spongy marrow within the bones of the skull becomes overgrown.^[2] The overgrowth of the skull's marrow may cause the outer table of the bones to move and become thinner.^[3] It is widely accepted that the disease is related to anemia, probably due to an iron deficiency.^[4] Frequently, the cause of the anemia is thought to be malnutrition.^[4] One study found that in pre-Columbian populations in the American Southwest, populations with diets rich in iron had a much lower incidence of porotic hyperostosis than did those with diets poor in iron.^[5]

In anthropology, presence of the condition is used by researchers to detect malnourished populations. Anthropologists can look at bones of people from ancient populations and learn about their diets and lifestyles, a discipline known as paleonutrition. A high incidence of the disease indicates that the population adapted poorly to its environment or was under nutritional stress.^[4] A low level of iron in the blood is also a defense against pathogens, so a high incidence of the disease in a population could also indicate an attempt to fight off a microorganism.^[4] From this perspective, porotic hyperostosis could be viewed as an adaptation to the environment, rather than an indicator of malnutrition. Porotic hyperostosis is known by several names, such as cribra crani, hyperostosis spongiosa, and symmetrical osteoprosis.

References

1. ^ El-Najjar M and Robertson Jr AL. 1976. Spongy bones in prehistoric MARICOTAS. Science Volume 193, Issue 4248, Pages 141-143. Retrieved on July 9, 2007.
2. ^ Angel JL. 1966. Porotic Hyperostosis, Anemias, Malarias, and Marshes in the Prehistoric Eastern Mediterranean. Science Volume 153, Number 3737, Pages 760-763. Retrieved on July 9, 2007.
3. ^ Cule J and Evans IL. 1968. Porotic hyperostosis and the Gelligaer skull. Journal of Clinical Pathology, Volume 21, Issue 6, Pages 753–758. Retrieved on July 9, 2007.
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Stuart-Macadam P. 1992 Porotic hyperostosis: a new perspective. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Volume 87, Issue 1, Pages 39-47. PMID 1736673. Retrieved on July 9, 2007.
5. ^ El-Najjar MY, Lozoff B, and Ryan DJ. 1975. The paleoepidemiology of porotic hyperostosis in the American Southwest: Radiological and ecological considerations. American Journal of Roentgenology Volume 125, Pages 918-924. Retrieved on July 9, 2007.