N-terminal C-type natriuretic propeptide is associated with the endosteal apposition of bone in females with a persistent eating disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Females with anorexia nervosa (AN) are often affected by osteoporosis. The study intends to investigate the association between serum levels of the N-terminal propeptide of the C-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proCNP) and bone development in anorexic females.


METHODS
In a catamnestic visit, 21 females, formerly treated for AN, were assessed for the presence of eating disorders and analyzed for bone parameters of the distal radius (4% site) with peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), for maximal isometric grip force (MIGF) and for NT-proCNP serum levels.


RESULTS
The 9 females with a persistent eating disorder had lower height and weight than the recovered girls. NT-proCNP was correlated with the cortical area (r = 0.521), the endosteal circumference (CE, r = -0.468) and the ratio of MIGF to cross-sectional bone area (r = 0.434). CE explained 40% of the variance of NT-proCNP in females with persistent eating disorders, but was not associated with NT-proCNP in recovered girls (p = 0.691). The association between CE and NT-proCNP was not existent when the correlation was controlled for the duration of amenorrhea and the supplemented cumulative dose of ethinylestradiol (p = 0.275).


CONCLUSIONS
NT-proCNP reflects metaphyseal inwaisting which is modified by estrogens and the pressure on the growth plate.
Fricke
Oliver
O
Children's Hospital, University of Cologne, Germany. frickeo@uni-koeln.de
Beccard
Ralf
R
Semler
Oliver
O
Stabrey
Angelika
A
Tutlewski
Baerbel
B
Lehmkuhl
Gerd
G
Schoenau
Eckhard
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type / Q000097:blood*
C480579:amino-terminal pro-C-type natriuretic peptide, human; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type