Relationship between the serum CA-125 level and bone mineral density in healthy pre- and post-menopausal women.
BACKGROUND
Osteoporosis and tumour-associated antigen (TAA) levels are associated with inflammatory processes, but little remains known about TAA levels and bone mineral density (BMD).


OBJECTIVE
We determined whether or not high-normal TAA levels are associated with a lower BMD in healthy women.


METHODS
A total of 3769 healthy women were enrolled from the health screening programme over 5 years. Each participant had undergone a basic health examination. Serum carbohydrate antigen (CA)-125, CA-19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha-fetoprotein levels were evaluated as tumour markers. The correlations between serum TAA levels and BMD were analysed.


RESULTS
Carbohydrate antigen 125 and CEA levels were positively associated with a higher BMD in the pre-menopause. In the post-menopause, the CA-125 level was positively associated with BMD. In the pre-menopause, CA-125 (r = 0.102; P < 0.001) and CEA levels (r = 0.134; P < 0.001) had a significant correlation with BMD. In the post-menopause, CA-125 was negatively associated with alkaline phosphatase (r = -0.298; P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a significant positive association between CA-125 and BMD in healthy women. Additional basic and clinical studies on the relationship between CA-125 and bone are needed.
Ahn
Ki Hoon
KH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Hyun Tae
HT
Kim
Tak
T
Hur
Jun Young
JY
Kim
Young Tae
YT
Lee
Kyu Wan
KW
Kim
Sun Haeng
SH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins