title: Changes in bone collagen markers and in bone density in hormone treated and untreated postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to compare bone mineral density measurements (BMD), pyridinium crosslink levels and pyridinium crosslink levels in untreated and hormone treated postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study comparing biophysical (BMD) and biochemical (pyridinium crosslink and PCICP) parameters in a group of untreated postmenopausal women (n = 145) to a group of postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (n = 92).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Untreated postmenopausal women compared to postmenopausal women on HRT had higher Osteoblastic and Osteoclastic activity. Procollagen I C-end terminal peptide (PCICP) was 11.3% lower in the women on HRT compared to controls whilst crosslinks were 27.2% lower than in controls. This seems to indicate that women on HRT had a bone balance that was higher compared to the control group (15.9%). The difference in bone density of L2-L4 between the two groups was (16.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study seems to indicate that postmenopausal women receiving HRT readjust their bone remodelling so that although osteoblastic function is reduced, there is a much greater deduction in osteoclastic function and this results in an overall higher bone mass observed in the BMD of women on HRT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Luke's Hospital Medical School, University of Malta, Gwarda Mangia, Malta.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brincat
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galea
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xuereb
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004967:Estrogens; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; C042813:procollagen type I carboxy terminal peptide; D009644:Norgestrel