Bone fragility and collagen cross-links.
Infrared imaging analysis of iliac crest biopsy specimens from patients with osteoporotic and multiple spontaneous fractures shows significant differences in the spatial variation of the nonreducible:reducible collagen cross-links at bone-forming trabecular surfaces compared with normal bone.


BACKGROUND
Although the role of BMC and bone mineral quality in determining fracture risk has been extensively studied, considerably less attention has been paid to the quality of collagen in fragile bone.


METHODS
In this study, the technique of Fourier transform infrared imaging (FTIRI) was used to determine the ratio of nonreducible:reducible cross-links, in 2- to 4-microm-thick sections, from human iliac crest biopsy specimens (N = 27) at bone-forming trabecular surfaces. The biopsy specimens were obtained from patients that had been diagnosed as high- or low-turnover osteoporosis, as well as premenopausal women <40 years of age, with normal BMD and biochemistry, who suffered multiple spontaneous fractures. The obtained values were compared with previously published analyses of trabecular bone from normal non-osteoporotic subjects (N = 14, 6 males and 8 females; age range, 51-70 years).


CONCLUSIONS
Collagen cross-links distribution within the first 50 microm at forming trabecular surfaces in patients with fragile bone was markedly different compared with normal bone.
Paschalis
Eleftherios P
EP
Mineralized Tissue Division, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA.
Shane
Elizabeth
E
Lyritis
George
G
Skarantavos
Grigoris
G
Mendelsohn
Richard
R
Boskey
Adele L
AL
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000453:epidemiology; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D003094:Collagen