GALACTOSYLHYDROXYLYSINE AND PYRIDINIUM CROSS-LINKS IN MONITORING THE BONE RESPONSE TO HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

Aim of the study was to compare urinary galactosyl-hydroxylysine (GHyl ), deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr) and pyridinoline (Pyr) before and after 5 to 9 months of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal wo men. The urinary markers were measured by HPLC in the second void of f asting samples and were expressed as ratio to creatinine. GHylwas also expressed as a ratio to glucosylgalactolysyl-hydroxylysine (GGHyl). A fter short-term hormone replacement therapy, urinary D-Pyr fell signif icantly, but Pyr and GHyl, also when expressed as a ratio to GGHyl, re mained unmodified, We conclude that GHyl and Pyr are not useful marker s in monitoring the bone response to HRT in postmenopausal women.