The 2024 Clinical Training Course on Metabolic Bone Diseases took place over two engaging days in November, offering a well-organized and varied program designed for healthcare professionals interested in bone health.
Day 1 started with two state-of-the-art lectures on basic principles of bone homeostasis and metabolism. Dr. Richard Eastell, who has been pivotal in founding and establishing the ECTS Clinical Course, delineated the basic principles of bone modeling and remodeling as well as the interactions of bone microenvironment with multiple factors such as aging, lifestyle, health conditions, nutritional status, and pathological conditions. Dr. Barbara Obermayer-Pietsch translated these notions into clinical practice focusing on clinical, biochemical and imaging diagnostic procedures to quantify bone disease.
The second session assessed bone health and fragility in different phases of lifespan. Dr. Jessica Pepe explored the subject of premenopausal osteoporosis, with a special focus on different clinical aspects, such as endometriosis, eating disorders and pregnancy-and-lactation induced osteoporosis. Dr. Michael Laurent highlighted specific issues of osteoporosis management in the geriatric patient, also pointing out several misconceptions regarding bone loss and treatment efficacy in the elderly population.
The afternoon session consisted of 3 workshops. Dr. Alex Ireland gave a very interesting overview on non-pharmacological osteoporosis treatments, delineating the effects of different aspects of exercise type and intensity on bone health and the need of a more systematic approach with regards to prospective clinical trials to investigate this interesting subject. Dr. Marian Schini presented the subject of male osteoporosis, a common but often overlooked disorder by clinicians. Her talk included characteristics of bone development and ageing in men and women, fracture risk assessment in men with a special focus on management of male osteoporosis. The first day ended with an interactive workshop on the choice between osteoanabolic agents, whereby Dr. Anastasilakis gave clinical guidance on how to choose between PTHR1 agonists and romosozumab based on individual clinical vignettes.
Day 2 began with a session on osteoporosis in children and adolescents by Dr. Adalbert Raimann, delivered live from the airport. Despite the unusual setting, the presentation offered valuable insights into early diagnosis and tailored treatments for this population.
The second session explored advances in osteomalacia. Dr. Konstantin Horas started with an overview comparing osteomalacia and osteoporosis, helping attendees distinguish these conditions in clinical practice. Dr. Natasha Appelman-Dijkstra followed with a detailed presentation on X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), focusing on its diagnosis and management. Dr. Lothar Seefried concluded the session with a discussion on hypophosphatasia, highlighting the latest treatment options and their benefits for patients.
The next session addressed bone health in complex situations. Dr. Julien Paccou examined the connection between obesity and bone health, presenting the latest research on this important topic. Dr. Emmanuel Biver continued with a presentation on malnutrition and its effects on bone homeostasis, focusing on ways to prevent and manage these issues. The session ended with Dr. Robert Coleman’s talk on cancer and its treatments’ impact on bone health, covering general aspects and management strategies.
The specialized workshop in the afternoon focused on cutting-edge topics. Dr. Heide Siggelkow introduced new treatments for managing chronic hypoparathyroidism, providing insights into their safety and effectiveness. Dr. Emma Duncan followed with a lecture on osteogenesis imperfecta, explaining recent advances in diagnosis and treatment. The day ended with an interactive final discussion led by the course directors, Drs. Elena Tsourdi and Felix von Brackel, giving participants the chance to exchange ideas and reflect on the key takeaways.
A warm thank you to all speakers and chairs for their excellent contributions, to the participants for their active engagement, to Ascendis Pharma for their generous grant supporting this event, and to the ECTS staff for excellent organization and technical support. We look forward to seeing you at the 2025 Clinical Training Course on Metabolic Bone Diseases!