STUDY OF S. N-TELOPEPTIDE, A BONE RESORPTIVE BIOMARKER IN POST-MENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS

BACKGROUND Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disorder characterised by low bone mass associated with microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to enhanced bone fragility and an increase in fracture risk. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is characterised by a hormone-dependent acceleration of bone loss that occurs after menopause. Serum N-Telopeptide, a bone resorptive biomarker helps to identify the post-menopausal woman with high bone turnover rate and thereby helps in predicting their future fracture risk. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The present study aims to measure S. N-Telopeptide level in postmenopausal women and to compare it with healthy premenopausal women and to evaluate the relationship between N-Telopeptide, BMD and oestrogen. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study group included 50 postmenopausal women aged 50-70 years who were not previously diagnosed as osteoporosis and who had BMD T-score >=-2.5 and T-score between -1.0 to -2.5. Control group include 50 premenopausal women aged 25-35 years. S. NTelopeptide and Oestrogen were measured by ELISA method. BMD was assessed by ultrasonography taken in heel and the T-scores were recorded. RESULTS Results were expressed as mean +/- SD and were statistically analysed using SPSS software version 16, student's t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The mean range of S. N-Telopeptide in the study group (101.47 nmol BCE/L) is significantly higher than the control group mean (17.35 nmol BCE/L) and the p value is statistically significant. Pearson's correlation studies showed a negative correlation between N-telopeptide and BMD, Oestrogen, BMI which is statistically significant. CONCLUSION The present study shows that there is a significant increase in serum N. Telopeptide level in postmenopausal women and it correlates well with the degree of osteoporosis.