[Preliminary study on bone loss rate in early and late stages of post-menopausal women]

To investigate the characteristics of bone loss rate and bone turnover in early and late stages of normal chinese postmenopausal women, and to evaluate the predictive value of bone biochemical markers.

Thirty-two early postmenopausal women (1-3 years after menopause, group 1) and 33 late ones (15-30 years after menopause, group 2) were enrolled. Serum and bone alkaline phosphotase (alkaline phosphotase, ALP; bone alkaline phosphotase, BAP), fasting uriuary calcium/creatinine ratio (Ca/Cr), and Pyridinoline/creatinine ratio (Pyd/Cr), serum osteocalcin(BGP), bone mineral density (BMD) were measured at laseline and 6 months, 12 month follow-up.

In group 1, mean lumber mineral density decreased 1.3% and 2.6% at 6 and 12 month follow-up as compared with initial values, In group 2, bone loss rates of femoral neck and Ward's triangle were 1.3%, 5.3% at 6 months, and 1.9%, 4.6% at 12 months respectively. Urinary Pyd/Cr elevated with time in the two groups. Changes of BGP, BAP in the two groups were similar. There were positive correlations between ALP, Ca/Cr, BGP, BAP and BMD. No correlation was found between bone loss rate of lumber spine and biochemical markers.

Lumber spine was the favorable site to assess rapid bone loss in early postmenopausal women. Femoral neck and Ward's triangle region were superior to other site in predicting slow bone loss. Bone turnover of the two groups were all accelerated. Single measurement of biochemical marker failed to predict bone loss rate.