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Cartilage turnover assessed with a newly developed assay measuring collagen type II degradation products: influence of age, sex, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, and body mass index

2003; BMJ; Volume: 62; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1136/ard.62.4.332

1468-2060

Ulrik Mouritzen,

Inflammatory mediators and NSAID effects

Cartilage normally has a slow turnover but in arthritis increased metabolism results in degradation of the tissue.To assess cartilage turnover in a sample of the general population by an assay measuring cartilage derived urinary collagen type II (CTX-II) C-telopeptide degradation products.CTX-II concentrations were measured in urine samples from 615 healthy men and women aged 20-87 years, and the influence of age, sex, menopause, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and body mass index (BMI) was assessed.CTX-II concentrations showed age dependent variations, with notable differences between men and women. Mean (SD) CTX-II concentration in postmenopausal women (220 (118) ng/mmol, n=25) was significantly higher than in an age matched group of premenopausal women (112 (79) ng/mmol, n=26, p<0.001). CTX-II concentration in women using HRT (118 (57) ng/mmol, n=50) was significantly lower than in an age and BMI matched group of women not receiving HRT (215 (99) ng/mmol, n=50, p or=25 kg/m(2), CTX-II concentrations were significantly higher than in those with a BMI <25 kg/m(2) (185 (114) v 148 (91) ng/mmol, p<0.001).Cartilage turnover, as assessed by measuring urinary degradation products of CTX-II varies considerably with age, and significant differences between CTX-II levels in men and women as well as in pre- and postmenopausal women are found. Further studies are required to validate the marker for assessing cartilage degradation in arthritis.