SERUM LEVELS OF OSTEOCALCIN AND TYPE-I PROCOLLAGEN IN CHILDREN WITH CELIAC-DISEASE

Background: Bone metabolism may be disturbed in children with celiac d isease. Methods: Two markers of bone turnover were used: the level of osteocalcin (BGP) and the level of carboxy/terminal peptide of type I procollagen (PICP). BGP and PICP were measured by radioimmunoassays in 18 untreated children with celiac disease (mean age: 22.9 +/- 15.6 mo nths) and in 15 control subjects (mean age 28.5 +/- 21 months). All th e patients were rechecked after 1 month and again after 3 months from beginning of a gluten-free diet (GFD). Results: Compared with controls at diagnosis our patients had significantly lower serum levels of BGP and PICP (p = 0.003 and p = 0.018 by Student's t test, respectively). These levels increased markedly during the 1st 3 months of GFD. Concl usions: The alteration in calcium phosphate homeostasis caused by celi ac disease directly affects the synthesis of both components of the co nnective matrix of bone. Measurements of BGP and PICP provide a reliab le and rapidly obtainable index of normalization of the processes of b one growth which can be achieved with a GFD. (C) 1997 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.