SERUM OSTEOCALCIN AND CARBOXYTERMINAL PROPEPTIDE OF TYPE-I PROCOLLAGEN IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Objectives-Previous reports indicate that serum osteocalcin (serum bon e GLA protein (S-BGP)) and carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procol lagen (PICP) can be used as indicators of bone formation and turnover. The purpose of this study was to assess the activity of bone formatio n in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using S-BGP and S-PICP. T he biochemical data were compared with data obtained from bone histomo rphometry. Methods-Concentrations of S-BGP and S-PICP were measured in 119 women with RA aged 30-66 years and 47 healthy female controls mat ched for age. Bone histomorphometry of iliac crest samples was perform ed in 107 patients with RA. Results-Weak to moderate correlations betw een the serum markers and histological bone formation parameters were found. Concentrations of S-BGP and S-PICP were significantly decreased in patients with RA compared with the controls (S-BGP 7.2 (2.3) v 8.7 (2.1) mug/l; S-PICP 105 (32) v 117 (38) mug/l. The lowest values were found in patients with recent onset RA. Conclusions-These findings su ggest that bone formation and bone remodelling are generally reduced i n patients with RA.