title: Interferon-alpha treatment decreases serum cross-linked C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen in haematological diseases.
abstract: Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is used in the treatment of many haematological diseases and it is known that IFN-alpha may affect bone turnover. The effect of IFN-alpha on bone metabolism was studied in 10 haematological patients. The mean duration of the treatment was 4 (range: 2.8-7.2) months. Besides the usual markers of bone metabolism, levels of the cross-linked C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), the N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) and the bone-specific alkaline phosphatase were measured. The bone mineral density was measured by computed tomography. During IFN-alpha treatment, serum ICTP decreased from a mean of 5.4 (range: 1.8-12.4) to 3.6 (range: 1.4-8.8) microg/l (P = 0.017). All other variables reflecting bone metabolism remained unaltered during IFN-alpha treatment. The bone mineral density remained unchanged. It was concluded that the observed decrease in ICTP may be an indicator of a beneficial therapeutic effect of IFN-alpha on bone turnover, resulting in decreased bone resorption. However, it is possible that elevated pretreatment ICTP values reflected disease of the bone marrow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine,Turku University Central Hospital,Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kauppila
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koskinen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pulkki
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sonninen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Remes
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Irjala
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Viikari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010455:Peptides; D011347:Procollagen; D003094:Collagen