title: Serum levels of the pyridinoline crosslinked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) and osteocalcin in rachitic children in Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We measured the levels of the pyridinoline crosslinked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) and osteocalcin (OC) in the serum of 12 rachitic and 27 healthy Nigerian children, and compared the performance of these relatively new markers of bone metabolism with established laboratory parameters of skeletal disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Active rickets was diagnosed on the basis of clinical and biochemical criteria. Serum calcium and phosphorus concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity were determined using clinically accepted methods. Radioimmunoassay was performed to quantify parathyroid hormone, 1-,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, OC, and ICTP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rachitic children had statistically significant serum elevations of ICTP and osteocalcin as compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Serum levels of ICTP correlated with alkaline phosphate activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a marker of abnormal bone metabolism, ICTP performs at least as well as alkaline phosphate. ICTP and OC are valuable additions to the growing repertoire of bone markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131, USA.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Scariano
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Glew
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Hollis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ocheke
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Isichei
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003094:Collagen / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D024042:Collagen Type I; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D009549:Nigeria; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D012279:Rickets / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D024042:Collagen Type I; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010455:Peptides; D010710:Phosphates; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D015675:Osteocalcin; D014807:Vitamin D; D003094:Collagen; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium