EVALUATION OF URINARY PYRIDINOLINE IN HEALTHY-ADULTS AND PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS BY AN IMPROVED HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC ASSAY

A modified method for the determination of pyridinoline using high-per formance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been applied to analyze the urine of healthy adults and patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The co ncentrations of pyridinoline in the urine of healthy Japanese men and women (average age: 50.6 and 51.8 yr, respectively) during morning fas ting were 28.8+/-2.8 (SEM) and 34.8+/-3.5 nmol/mmol creatinine, respec tively. In the case of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the urinary concentration of pyridinoline was 49.1+/-8.3 nmol/mmol creatinine (wo men, average age, 61.1 yr), which was significantly higher than that o f healthy women of the same age (p < 0.05). This study supports the ap plication of HPLC for urinary pyridinoline analysis and as a screening test for patients with bone disease.