title: Osteoporosis and polymorphisms of osteoprotegerin gene in postmenopausal women - a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Osteoprotegerin (OPG) has an important role in bone remodeling, and it has been proposed that the OPG gene might be a candidate gene for osteoporosis predisposition. Several studies have already assessed the connection between OPG gene polymorphism and bone mineral density (BMD). In this study we wanted to analyze the association of two polymorphisms in the OPG gene with BMD and bone turnover markers in women with and without osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 22 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (aged 65.6 ±12.6) and 59 women without osteoporosis (aged 60.8 ±8.7) we analyzed the association of two polymorphisms in the OPG gene with BMD, measured by dual energy absorptiometry and with bone turnover markers (crosslaps and osteoprotegerin). A163G, G209A, T245G and G1181C polymorphisms were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences in age, anthropometry, number of fractures, osteocalcin and cross-laps were found between women with and without osteoporosis. Women with osteoporosis were significantly longer in postmenopause. Significantly more women with osteoporosis had AG polymorphism (p = 0.038) compared to women without osteoporosis, while no significant difference was found in prevalence of TT and GG polymorphism between patients with and without osteoporosis. No relationship was found between investigated polymorphism and bone turnover markers. A significant negative correlation between total hip BMD and crosslaps (p = 0.046) as well as between total hip T score and crosslaps (p = 0.044) was found in women without osteoporosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis had AG polymorphism more frequently than women without osteoporosis. Our results indicate that A163G polymorphism could have an impact on higher bone loss in postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department for Environmental and Occupational Health, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cvijetic
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital "Sisters of Mercy", Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Simeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grazio
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Protection, Clinical Hospital Osijek, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Pasezada
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kosovic
authors.affiliation: Croatian Pension Insurance Institute, Croatia.
authors.forename: Melita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uremovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital "Sisters of Mercy", Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nemcic
authors.affiliation: Department for Environmental and Occupational Health, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jasminka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bobic
keywords: crosslaps; gene polymorphism; osteocalcin; osteoporosis; osteoprotegerin; postmenopause