Possible prediction of accelerated osteoporosis by alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes

We observed that patients with a variety of metabolic bone diseases had elevated fractions of bone alkaline phosphatase as determined by polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis and thermostability studies. We undertook an epidemiologic investigation to determine if there is any causal relationship between increased bone alkaline phosphatase in the perimenopausal healthy woman and later development of osteoporosis as reflected in bone fractures. The results after an 8-year follow-up show that the fracture rate in the normal group was statistically significantly lower than the fracture rate in the elevated group after adjustment for chronologic and postmenopausal ages (p = 0.05).