title: Markers of bone metabolism in eugonadal female patients with beta-thalassemia major.
abstract: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) have been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of various types of osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to investigate bone turnover in eugonadal female patients with this disease and characterize the possible role of the OPG/RANKL system in thalassemia-related bone loss. Markers of bone turnover and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured in 16 eugonadal young females with beta-thalassemia major and 18 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Bone turnover was significantly increased in thalassemic patients compared to controls but OPG was significantly higher in healthy subjects. BMD values negatively correlated with urine markers of bone resorption but not with OPG/sRANKL system.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Department, Hippokrateion Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece. drangelnick@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Nicholas G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Angelopoulos
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goula
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Katounda
authors.forename: Grigorios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rombopoulos
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kaltzidou
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaltsas
authors.forename: Evangellia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Konstandelou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tolis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000652:urine; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015519:Bone Density; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000209:etiology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood; D010455:Peptides / Q000652:urine; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B / Q000097:blood; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*