Altered bone mineral metabolism in patients with osteoarthritis

Abstract EN

Objective: Investigation of the relationship of OA to bone mineral density and determination of any alterations in bone mineral metabolism as assessed by bio-chemical markers of bone resorption and formation.

Methods: Forty females and twenty males were included in the study.

Spinal OA as well as knee OA were defined from radiographs and they were graded according to Lane et al.

Scoring system.

Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine was measured by osteo CT.

Bone turnover rates were estimated by measuring biochemical markers of bone resorption (urinary deoxypyridinoline) and bone formation (bone specific alkaline phosphatase).

Forty females and twenty males of the same age were studied as a control group.

Results: BMD was greater in women with spinal OA as compared to controls (p<0.05).

Also males with OA had insignificantly better BMD as compared to controls.

The bone resorption marker was higher than the normal values.

However, they were lower than the control group.

Similarly, the bone formation marker was lower as compared to the control group.

Conclusion: Spinal OA is associated with higher BMD.

This protective effect of spinal OA against osteoporosis may be mediated through increased bone density.