Yonsei Med J.  2008 Apr;49(2):288-294. 10.3349/ymj.2008.49.2.288.

Bone and Cartilage Turnover Markers, Bone Mineral Density, and Radiographic Damage in Men with Ankylosing Spondylitis

• Park MC
• Chung SJ
• Park YB
• Lee SK

• KMID: 1084503
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2008.49.2.288

Abstract

PURPOSE
To determine the levels of bone and cartilage turnover markers in men with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to investigate their associations with disease activity, bone mineral density, and radiographic damage of the spine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 35 men with newly diagnosed AS. The bone mineral densities (BMD) of their lumbar spines and proximal femurs, Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and Bath AS Radiographic Index (BASRI) were evaluated. Urinary C-terminal telopeptide fragments of type I collagen (CTX-I) and type II collagen (CTX-II) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and serum levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and osteocalcin were determined by an enzyme immunoassay. Levels of biochemical markers were compared with those of 70 age-matched healthy men. RESULTS: Patients with AS had significantly higher mean urinary CTX-I and CTX-II levels than control subjects (p < 0.05). Elevated urinary CTX-I levels correlated well with BASDAI, femoral BMD, and femoral T score (p < 0.05), and elevated urinary CTX-II levels correlated well with spinal BASRI (p < 0.05) in patients with AS. Mean serum BALP and osteocalcin levels did not differ between patients and controls and did not show any significant correlations with BMD, BASDAI, or BASRI in men with AS. Conclusions: Elevated CTX-I reflects disease activity and loss of femoral BMD while elevated CTX-II levels correlate well with radiographic damage of the spine, suggesting the usefulness of these markers for monitoring disease activity, loss of BMD, and radiographic damage in men with AS.

Keyword

Ankylosing spondylitis, bone mineral density; C-terminal telopeptide fragments of type I collagen; C-terminal telopeptide fragments of type II collagen; radiographic damage

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Alkaline Phosphatase/blood
Biological Markers/*analysis/blood/urine
*Bone Density
Bone and Bones/*metabolism/radiation effects
Cartilage/metabolism/radiation effects
Collagen Type I/urine
Collagen Type II/urine
Cross-Sectional Studies
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Humans
Immunoassay/methods
Male
Osteocalcin/blood
Spondylitis, Ankylosing/*metabolism

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