CREVICULAR FLUID OSTEOCALCIN AND PYRIDINOLINE CROSS-LINKED CARBOXYTERMINAL TELOPEPTIDE OF TYPE-I COLLAGEN (ICTP) AS MARKERS OF RAPID BONE TURNOVER IN PERIODONTITIS - A PILOT-STUDY IN BEAGLE DOGS

The objective of this study was to correlate the levels of 2 putative markers of bone metabolism, namely osteocalcin and pyridinoline cross- linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), to the p rogression of experimental alveolar bone loss in the beagle dog. 36 co ntrol sites and 36 experimental sites in 2 beagle dogs were assessed l ongitudinally at 2-week intervals for gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) osteocalcin and ICTP levels during a 6-month observation period, Analy sis of osteocalcin and ICTP in GCF was performed by RIA. During the st udy, bone-seeking radiopharmaceutical uptake (BSRU) of (99)mTc-MDP was assessed monthly; standardized radiographs were taken at 2-week inter vals. The results showed osteocalcin and ICTP levels in GCF increased significantly (p<0.05) by 2 weeks following initiation of disease. Thi s increase preceded significant increases in BSRU by 2 weeks and radio graphic evidence of bone loss by 4 weeks. BSRU was significantly eleva ted (p<0.05) at experimental sites as compared to controls at 4 and 8 weeks post-disease initiation. Osteocalcin in GCF peaked 8 and 10 week s after ligature placement in experimental sites at levels nearly 10-f old greater than contralateral paired control sites. ICTP levels in GC F remained elevated throughout the entire disease progression phase. F ollowing the removal of ligatures, both GCF ostocalcin and ICTP levels dropped precipitously approaching control values. Osteocalcin reveale d overall a positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive va lue (NPV) for future bone loss during disease progression of 0.87 and 0.34, respectively, while ICTP showed both high PPV and NPV of 0.87 an d 0.91 respectively. Results from this study in the dog model indicate that osteocalcin and especially ICTP relate to indices of active peri odontal bony destruction and suggest that these molecules may serve as predictive markers for future alveolar bone loss.