Research lines

• 1. Pathogenesis of osteoporosis and fracture development in primary biliary cholangitis and other chronic cholestatic disorders

  Based on our clinical and experimental studies on the development of osteoporosis in primary biliary cholangitis, we have confirmed its high prevalence and clinical risk factors. Also, we have shown that its main mechanism is a low bone formation secondary to the effect of substances retained in cholestasis on bone cells

• 3. Osteoporosis in premenopausal women and in males. Clinical characteristics and mechanisms involved in the development of the disorder

  We have analyzed the factors associated with the development of osteoporosis in men and in premenopausal women. These studies are important because the information is much scarcer than the one that refers to postmenopausal osteoporosis.

• 2. Osteoporosis in liver transplantation

  For years we studied the characteristics of the bone pathology in patients before and after liver transplant. We recently evaluated whether the bone characteristics of the patients who are going to receive a liver transplant had changed over the years.

• 4. Evaluation of bone remodelling regulators in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis

  We have analyzed the OPG/RANKL system in different conditions: chronic cholestasis and patients with spinal cord injury. We have also analyzed aspects related to sclerostin, inhibitor of the Wnt pathway, in primary biliary cholangitis.

• 5. Biomarkers in Paget disease

  For years we have studied the effectiveness of the use of bone turnover markers to analyze the activity of Paget's bone disease. We recently extended the analysis by evaluating the usefulness of periostin, a new marker of bone metabolism, and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP5b).