title: Osteoprotegerin and bone mineral density in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoprotegerin is a soluble glycoprotein that belongs to the tumor-necrosis-factor receptor superfamily. In vitro, osteoprotegerin blocks osteoclastogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. The serum osteoprotegerin level shows a positive correlation with bone metabolism markers and a negative correlation with bone mineral density in healthy persons, but these relationships are unclear in hemodialysis patients. We investigated the role of osteoprotegerin in bone loss in hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured baseline serum osteoprotegerin, bone metabolism markers, and bone mineral density in hemodialysis patients. A total of 201 patients (114 men and 87 women) were followed for 12 months, and bone mineral density was measured again to calculate the annual percent change in bone mineral density. Serum osteoprotegerin was also measured in 20 healthy persons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The osteoprotegerin levels of the hemodialysis patients were about three times higher than those of the healthy controls. The osteoprotegerin level showed a negative correlation with various bone metabolism markers. In multiple regression analysis, the annual percent change in bone mineral density showed a positive correlation with osteoprotegerin level, while there was a negative correlation with duration of hemodialysis and intact parathyroid hormone level. The osteoprotegerin levels of the hemodialysis patients were about three times higher than those of the healthy controls. The osteoprotegerin level showed a negative correlation with various bone metabolism markers. In multiple regression analysis, the annual percent change in bone mineral density showed a positive correlation with osteoprotegerin level, while there was a negative correlation with duration of hemodialysis and intact parathyroid hormone level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These correlations of osteoprotegerin are opposite to those found in healthy persons. However, osteoprotegerin might act to prevent bone loss even in hemodialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, and Department of Internal Medicine, Hakuai Hospital, Kure, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yorioka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takasugi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shigemoto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kohno
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053244:Osteoprotegerin