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Can a determination of tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase predict postmenopausal loss of bone mass?
Author(s) -
Rico H.,
Arribas I.,
Villa L. F.,
Casanova F. J.,
Hernández E. R.,
CortésPrieto J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2362.2002.00984.x
Subject(s) - postmenopausal women , tartrate resistant acid phosphatase , acid phosphatase , chemistry , tartrate , bone mass , endocrinology , medicine , chromatography , biochemistry , osteoporosis , enzyme
Background A study was carried out over a 24‐month interval to determine if an initial measurement of serum tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase would be predictive of bone mass loss quantified by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry, as total bone mineral content and total bone mineral content corrected for weight. Design Sixty‐two women were studied (at onset: mean age 59·7 ± 8·9 years, 10·8 ± 8·8 years since menopause; at conclusion: mean age 61·9 ± 8·8 and 13·0 ± 8·7 since menopause). Results A paired Wilcoxon test showed a small, but significant, increase in weight ( P < 0·05) and decrease in height ( P < 0·05). Total bone mineral content and total bone mineral content corrected for weight decreased ( P < 0·005 and 0·0001, respectively). Serum tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase increased ( P < 0·005). Single‐regression analysis showed that the per cent bone mass loss observed between the first and second body bone mineral content measurements correlated negatively with the first serum tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase determination ( r = −0·62, P < 0·0001). Changes in tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase correlated negatively with changes in total bone mineral content ( r = −0·79, P < 0·0001). In a multiple regression analysis of per cent change in bone mass against initially important variables such as age, years since menopause, weight, and tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase, only tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase was significant ( P < 0·0001). The sensitivity and specifity of tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase for evaluating bone loss were 86% and 78%, respectively, and the area under the curve was of 0·83 (95% CI 0·71–0·95). Conclusion These results show that a simple measurement of serum tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase can help to predict the potential rate of bone mass loss in women.