Biochemical markers and bone mineral density in patients with hip fractures in men

The purpose of this study was to determine whether males with hip fractures have associated decreased gonadal function. Second void urine and serum sa mples were obtained from 25 male hip fracture patients (mean age+/-SD, 78.5 +/-5.9 years) and 19 age- and gender-matched controls (77.6+/-6.2 years). S erum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone (Te), total est radiol (E-2), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), 1,25(OH)(2)D-3, N-mid osteocalcin (OCN-mid), type I collagen degradation products (S-CTx) and ur inary levels of pyridinoline (Pyr), deoxypyridinoline (Dpyr) and type I col lagen degradation products (U-CTx) were measured. Bone mineral density (BMD ) of the L2-4 spine, femoral neck, trochanter, Ward's triangle, distal one third portion of the radius and ultradistal radius were also measured in th e fracture group. Serum levels of LH, E-2, Te, DHEAS, 1,25(OH)(2)D-3 and OC N-mid in the fracture group were not statistically different from those in the control group. Levels of urinary Pyr, CTx and S-CTx in the fracture gro up increased significantly compared with those in the control group. In the fracture group, serum levels of Te correlated positively with distal one t hird portion of the radius BMD and ultradistal radius BMD. U-CTx and S-CTx correlated negatively with all the BMD measurement sites in the hip region and with the radius BMD. An imbalance between bone resorption and bone form ation was evident in male hip fracture patients. However, male patients wit h hip fractures did not show associated decreased gonadal function in this study.