MCQS on Bone resorption

By | February 19, 2025

1. A 65-year-old woman with a history of early menopause presents with back pain and height loss. Radiographs show vertebral compression fractures. Which bone resorption marker would you expect to be elevated?

  • A) Alkaline phosphatase
  • B) Osteocalcin
  • C) N-telopeptide (NTX)
  • D) Vitamin D

2. A patient on long-term glucocorticoid therapy for rheumatoid arthritis is at risk for:

  • A) Bone formation
  • B) Increased bone resorption
  • C) Decreased parathyroid hormone secretion
  • D) Increased bone density

3. In a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism, how does the parathyroid hormone affect bone resorption?

  • A) It inhibits osteoclast activity
  • B) It stimulates osteoclast activity
  • C) It has no effect on bone resorption
  • D) It enhances bone formation

4. A 55-year-old man with a recent diagnosis of multiple myeloma is at an increased risk for:

  • A) Pathologic fractures due to increased bone resorption
  • B) Osteoblastic bone lesions
  • C) Decreased serum calcium
  • D) Bone marrow suppression without bone effects

5. Which medication is primarily used to reduce bone resorption in patients with osteoporosis?

  • A) Vitamin D supplements
  • B) Calcium
  • C) Bisphosphonates
  • D) Estrogen

6. A 70-year-old woman with osteoporosis is started on denosumab. This drug works by:

  • A) Inhibiting RANKL, thus reducing osteoclast activity
  • B) Increasing calcium absorption in the gut
  • C) Stimulating osteoblast activity
  • D) Directly killing osteoclasts

7. A patient presents with hypercalcemia, bone pain, and elevated serum levels of PTH-related protein (PTHrP). These findings are most consistent with:

  • A) Primary hyperparathyroidism
  • B) Malignancy-associated hypercalcemia
  • C) Vitamin D toxicity
  • D) Osteomalacia

8. In a patient with Paget’s disease of bone, which of the following is true regarding bone resorption?

  • A) Bone resorption is decreased
  • B) There is increased and disorganized bone resorption
  • C) Osteoclasts are inhibited
  • D) Bone density is uniformly increased

9. A 60-year-old man with type 2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy shows signs of Charcot foot. What’s the primary concern regarding bone resorption in this scenario?

  • A) Increased bone resorption leading to bone destruction
  • B) Decreased bone turnover
  • C) Enhanced bone healing
  • D) No effect on bone resorption

10. Which of the following scenarios would most likely lead to increased bone resorption?

  • A) High physical activity
  • B) Prolonged bed rest
  • C) High calcium diet
  • D) Vitamin D supplementation

11. A postmenopausal woman with a T-score of -2.5 on DXA scan is diagnosed with osteoporosis. Which of these treatments would most directly target bone resorption?

  • A) Teriparatide
  • B) Alendronate
  • C) Calcitonin
  • D) Strontium ranelate

12. In a patient with chronic kidney disease, bone resorption can be complicated by:

  • A) Increased vitamin D activation
  • B) Secondary hyperparathyroidism
  • C) Decreased bone turnover
  • D) Enhanced osteoblast function

13. A 50-year-old woman presents with bone pain, hypercalcemia, and a serum electrophoresis showing an M-spike. What is the most likely diagnosis?

  • A) Osteoporosis
  • B) Multiple myeloma
  • C) Osteomalacia
  • D) Hyperparathyroidism

14. Which of the following is a direct measurement of bone resorption?

  • A) Serum calcium level
  • B) Serum phosphate level
  • C) C-telopeptide (CTX)
  • D) Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase

15. A patient with breast cancer develops bone metastases. What is the primary effect on bone resorption?

  • A) Increased osteoclast activity leading to bone destruction
  • B) Inhibition of bone resorption
  • C) Increased bone formation
  • D) No change in bone turnover

16. An elderly patient on long-term proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is at risk for:

  • A) Increased bone formation
  • B) Increased bone resorption and fracture risk
  • C) Decreased calcium absorption with no bone effect
  • D) Bone healing

17. A patient with a history of bariatric surgery presents with osteopenia. Which vitamin deficiency is likely contributing to increased bone resorption?

  • A) Vitamin B12
  • B) Vitamin K
  • C) Vitamin D
  • D) Vitamin E

18. In a patient with osteoporosis, which of the following would indicate that bone resorption is effectively reduced by treatment?

  • A) Increased serum calcium
  • B) Increased alkaline phosphatase
  • C) Decreased urinary NTX
  • D) Increased osteocalcin

19. A 58-year-old woman with a history of smoking and low calcium intake shows signs of accelerated bone loss. Which imaging modality would best assess bone resorption?

  • A) MRI
  • B) CT scan
  • C) Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
  • D) Ultrasound

20. A patient with hyperthyroidism might exhibit:

  • A) Decreased bone turnover
  • B) Increased bone resorption
  • C) Increased bone density
  • D) No effect on bone metabolism

21. Which of the following lifestyle choices has the least impact on reducing bone resorption?

  • A) Weight-bearing exercise
  • B) Adequate calcium intake
  • C) Smoking
  • D) Vitamin D supplementation

22. In a patient with postmenopausal osteoporosis, which hormone’s deficiency primarily contributes to increased bone resorption?

  • A) Thyroid hormone
  • B) Estrogen
  • C) Insulin
  • D) Cortisol

23. A patient with renal osteodystrophy might develop:

  • A) Osteitis fibrosa cystica due to increased bone resorption
  • B) Osteosclerosis
  • C) Decreased bone resorption
  • D) No bone changes

24. Which of these conditions is NOT typically associated with increased bone resorption?

  • A) Hyperparathyroidism
  • B) Osteoporosis
  • C) Osteopetrosis
  • D) Multiple myeloma

25. A patient with a high turnover osteoporosis would benefit most from:

  • A) Calcium supplements alone
  • B) Antiresorptive therapy like bisphosphonates
  • C) Anabolic agents like teriparatide
  • D) Dietary changes without medication

26. In a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, what contributes to bone loss?

  • A) Increased osteoblast activity
  • B) Inflammation leading to increased bone resorption
  • C) Decreased parathyroid hormone
  • D) High calcium levels in serum

27. A patient on aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer might experience:

  • A) Enhanced bone formation
  • B) Increased bone resorption leading to bone loss
  • C) No changes in bone metabolism
  • D) Decreased bone resorption

28. Which bone marker would you monitor to assess the effectiveness of an antiresorptive treatment in osteoporosis?

  • A) Alkaline phosphatase
  • B) Osteocalcin
  • C) Serum CTX
  • D) Parathyroid hormone

29. A patient with Cushing’s syndrome might exhibit:

  • A) Increased bone resorption and osteoporosis
  • B) Increased bone density
  • C) Decreased bone turnover
  • D) No bone effects

30. In a patient with severe vitamin D deficiency, bone resorption is likely increased due to:

  • A) Direct inhibition of osteoclasts
  • B) Secondary hyperparathyroidism
  • C) Increased bone mineralization
  • D) Decreased bone remodeling

31. Which of the following is an example of a disease with local bone resorption rather than systemic?

  • A) Osteoporosis
  • B) Hyperparathyroidism
  • C) Periodontitis
  • D) Paget’s disease

32. A patient on chronic heparin therapy might develop:

  • A) Increased bone formation
  • B) Osteoporosis due to increased bone resorption
  • C) Decreased bone resorption
  • D) No effect on bone

33. In a patient with a recent spinal cord injury, what is expected regarding bone metabolism?

  • A) Increased bone resorption due to immobilization
  • B) Decreased bone resorption
  • C) Increased bone formation
  • D) No change in bone turnover

34. Which of the following is a consequence of excessive bone resorption in the jaw?

  • A) Increased jaw strength
  • B) Osteonecrosis of the jaw
  • C) Decreased tooth mobility
  • D) Enhanced bone regeneration

35. A patient with a history of anorexia nervosa is at risk for:

  • A) Increased bone density
  • B) Osteopenia or osteoporosis due to increased bone resorption
  • C) Decreased bone resorption
  • D) Enhanced bone healing

36. In a patient with hypercalciuria, which process is likely altered?

  • A) Bone formation is increased
  • B) Bone resorption is increased
  • C) Calcium absorption is decreased
  • D) No bone changes

37. What’s the primary mechanism by which bisphosphonates work?

  • A) They promote osteoblast activity
  • B) They inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption
  • C) They increase calcium absorption
  • D) They stimulate vitamin D synthesis

38. A patient with a high serum level of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase indicates:

  • A) Decreased bone resorption
  • B) Increased bone turnover
  • C) Decreased bone formation
  • D) No change in bone metabolism

39. In postmenopausal women, which hormone change directly contributes to bone loss?

  • A) Increase in progesterone
  • B) Decrease in estrogen
  • C) Increase in testosterone
  • D) Decrease in cortisol

40. Which of these is NOT an effect of excessive bone resorption?

  • A) Fractures
  • B) Loss of height
  • C) Bone pain
  • D) Increased bone density

41. A patient with a history of gastric bypass surgery might experience increased bone resorption due to:

  • A) Malabsorption of calcium and vitamin D
  • B) Increased bone formation
  • C) Decreased bone resorption
  • D) Enhanced bone mineralization

42. Which scenario would NOT typically lead to increased bone resorption?

  • A) Immobility after hip fracture
  • B) Hypogonadism
  • C) High-impact exercise
  • D) Chronic alcohol abuse

43. In a patient with Gaucher’s disease, bone resorption might be increased due to:

  • A) Increased bone density
  • B) Bone marrow infiltration by Gaucher cells
  • C) Decreased osteoclast activity
  • D) Enhanced bone formation

44. Which treatment for osteoporosis aims at both reducing bone resorption and increasing bone formation?

  • A) Bisphosphonates
  • B) Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs)
  • C) Teriparatide
  • D) Calcitonin

45. A patient with osteogenesis imperfecta would primarily show:

  • A) Increased bone density
  • B) Increased bone resorption leading to brittle bones
  • C) Decreased bone resorption
  • D) No changes in bone metabolism

46. In patients with chronic liver disease, bone resorption can be increased due to:

  • A) Increased vitamin D activation
  • B) Secondary hyperparathyroidism due to vitamin D deficiency
  • C) Enhanced bone formation
  • D) Decreased bone turnover

47. A patient with a high level of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in blood suggests:

  • A) Decreased osteoclast activity
  • B) Increased osteoclast activity
  • C) Decreased bone resorption
  • D) No relevance to bone metabolism

48. Which condition would most likely present with both increased bone resorption and formation?

  • A) Osteoporosis
  • B) Osteomalacia
  • C) Paget’s disease of bone
  • D) Osteopetrosis

49. In a patient undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma, bone resorption might be increased due to:

  • A) Direct stimulation of osteoblasts
  • B) Tumor-induced osteoclast activation
  • C) Decreased bone resorption
  • D) Enhanced bone formation

50. A patient with primary biliary cirrhosis might develop bone disease characterized by:

  • A) Increased bone density
  • B) Osteopenia or osteoporosis due to increased bone resorption
  • C) Decreased bone resorption
  • D) Normal bone metabolism