Types I and III procollagen extension peptides in serum respond to fracture in humans.
Markers of types I and III collagen turnover were measured in serial blood samples in 16 patients with a Colles' fracture. The collagen markers were the carboxy-terminal extension peptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and the amino-terminal extension peptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP). Significant increases were found of PIIINP within 1 week and of PICP within 2 weeks. This sequential appearance of PIIINP and PICP was found to be in agreement with the appearance of types III and I collagen during early fracture healing as demonstrated in previous animal experimental studies. PICP had levelled off after 9 months, whereas PIIINP remained elevated. Osteocalcin, a serum marker of osteoblast activity, increased within 1 week and levelled off after 9 months. Correlations between the change in osteocalcin and those in PICP and PIIINP, respectively, were weak. These new biochemical markers may prove relevant as non-invasive markers of normal and pathological fracture healing in humans.
Joerring
S
S
Department of Orthopedics A, Frederiksberg Hospital, Denmark.
Jensen
L T
LT
Andersen
G R
GR
Johansen
J S
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003100:Colles' Fracture / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; C042813:procollagen type I carboxy terminal peptide; D015675:Osteocalcin