Estrogen Receptors in Bone in a Patient with Polyostotic Fibrous Dysplasia (McCune-Albright Syndrome)

Abstract

MOST investigators think that estrogen acts indirectly on bone,¹ since direct skeletal action would require the presence of hormone-specific receptors in bone cells.^{2 , 3} However, recent advances in technology have resulted in a renewed effort to identify estrogen receptors in bone.We describe a patient with the classic McCune–Albright syndrome of sexual precocity, hyperpiglnented skin maculae, and cystic bone lesions.^{4 , 5} Our patient had rapid progression of two bone lesions during pregnancy. A study of these lesions revealed the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors in osteogenic cells — a finding relevant to a possible direct action of estrogen on human bone . . .