The application of plasma tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase to assess changes in bone resorption in response to artificial menopause and its treatment with estrogen or norethisterone.

Plasma tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TR ACP), urinary hydroxyproline excretion (UH), serum osteocalcin, and bone alkaline phosphatase isozyme were determined in a prospective study in 31 women who had undergone bilateral ovariectomy (OOX). Nine patients were followed up for 1 year without treatment and for the following 3 years when on mestranol (M) substitution. On the basis of UH, 22 patients were identified as having increased bone resorption (BR) within 3 months of OOX. Subsequently, 11 patients were treated with transdermal estradiol (E2) and 11 patients with norethisterone (norethindrone, NE). In untreated patients, the biochemical indices of BR peaked 3-6 months following OOX and biochemical indices of bone formation (BF) continued to increase from 3 until 12 months. The substitution with both E2 or M resulted in normalization in serum and urinary calcium, serum phosphate, renal threshold phosphate concentration (TmPO4/GRF), and biochemical indices of BR within 4 months of treatment. Biochemical indices of BF normalized within 6 months of treatment. In the M-treated group, these effects continued for 3 years of the follow-up. The hormonal substitution had a protective effect on cortical and lumbar spine bone mass. A significant decrease, but not to normal values, in biochemical indices of BR and a persistent elevation in indices of BF were found in NE-treated patients. Unlike E2, NE does not depress osteoblastic function. There is strong evidence supporting the utility of measurements of TR ACP in plasma in examination of women who had ovariectomies and in assessement of the efficacy of treatment.