Bone turnover markers are correlated with quantitative ultrasound of the calcaneus: 5-year longitudinal data.

Associations between bone turnover markers and calcaneal ultrasound (quantitative ultrasound, QUS) were studied in a population-based sample of 810 elderly women. Baseline bone turnover markers correlated with baseline QUS as well as with 5-year prospective changes in QUS. INTRODUCTION: Bone turnover markers are associated with areal bone mineral density, but the knowledge on the association with QUS is limited. METHODS: Eight hundred ten women, all 75 years old, were investigated at baseline. Five hundred six completed a 5-year follow-up. Bone turnover markers and calcaneal QUS [speed of sound (SoS), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), stiffness] were investigated at baseline. QUS was investigated at follow-up. RESULTS: All bone turnover markers were correlated with baseline QUS [standardized regression (Beta(std)) values from -0.07, p < 0.05 to -0.23, p < 0.001], with the exception of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (S-Bone ALP) which was not correlated with BUA and stiffness index. When the correlations between baseline bone turnover markers and 5-year changes in QUS were analyzed, three serum osteocalcins were correlated with changes of SoS and stiffness index (Beta(std) = -0.11, p < 0.05 to -0.17, p < 0.001). Also S-CTX-I correlated with changes of SoS and stiffness index (Beta(std) = -0.10 and -0.09, respectively, p < 0.05). S-TRACP5b, urinary deoxypyridinoline/crea, and U-MidOC/crea correlated with changes of SoS (Beta(std) = -0.10 and p < 0.05 for all). S-Bone ALP did not correlate with change of QUS. None of the bone turnover markers correlated with changes of BUA. CONCLUSIONS: Bone turnover markers correlate with concomitantly assessed QUS as well as with longitudinal change in QUS.