Serum osteocalcin in the assessment of corticosteroid induced osteoporosis. Effect of long and short term corticosteroid treatment.

Serum osteocalcin was measured in patients receiving corticosteroid for long and short term at different doses. Low osteocalcin levels were observed in treated patients compared to age and sex matched controls (p less than 0.001). The effect was dose dependent and paralleled the adrenal inhibition assessed by morning cortisol. Short term administration resulted in a rapid decline of baseline osteocalcin which was maintained during the treatment period and was reversible after withdrawal. Osteocalcin appeared as a sensitive index of the inhibitory effect of corticosteroid on osteoblasts.