Biochemical bone markers compared with bone density measurement by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry

In contrast to medical imaging, the biochemical markers allow a more frequent determination and are not as invasive as histomorphometric methods. We investigated biochemical markers of type I collagen compared with bone density measurements in 85 females between 41 and 89 years of age (median: 57 years). The bone density measurements were performed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) on the lumbar spine (L1-4). The bone density measurements were stated as a percentage of the norm. All patients were divided into three groups: I =80%; II = 80-130%; III =120%. Based on this classification the median concentration of the I-carboxyterminal propeptide of type I collagen in serum (S-PICP) as…