Changes in levels of biochemical markers and ultrasound indices of Os calcis across the menopausal transition.

The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate the changes in the levels of biochemical markers and ultrasound indices of os calcis across the menopausal transition. One hundred and ten healthy women (age 35-59 years at the 1992 baseline) participated in this 4-year population-based longitudinal study. Serum intact osteocalcin (IOC), urinary pyridinoline (Pyr), urinary deoxypyridinoline (Dpyr) and ultrasound indices were measured at baseline and after 4 years. The percentage changes in biochemical markers (% delta IOC, % delta Pyr and % delta Dpyr) and the percentage decreases in the ultrasound indices (% delta SOS, % delta BUA and % delta Stiffness) were calculated. The values of % delta IOC and % delta Dpyr in the perimenopausal subgroup (-4 to -3 years since menopause) and the values of % delta SOS and % delta Stiffness in the perimenopausal subgroup (-2 to 0 years since menopause) were significantly higher than those in other groups. Pyr was significantly correlated with % delta SOS (r = -0.467, p < 0.01) and % delta Stiffness (r = -0.330, p < 0.05) and Dpyr was significantly correlated with % delta SOS (r = -0.390, p < 0.05), % delta BUA (r = -0.353, p < 0.05) and % delta Stiffness (r = -0.454, p < 0.05), while % delta IOC was significantly correlated with % delta SOS (r = -0.278, p < 0.05), % delta BUA (r = -0.369, p < 0.01) and % delta Stiffness (r = -0.383, p < 0.01) in the peri- and postmenopausal groups. These results indicate that the increase in bone turnover occurs 4 years before menopause. However, the correlations between biochemical markers and ultrasound indices were too low to allow prediction of bone change in the individual patient.