Changes in Serum Levels of Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein after Estrogen and Alendronate Therapy in Postmenopausal Women

• Published in: Gynecologic and obstetric investigation Vol. 74; no. 2; pp. 143 - 150
• Main Authors: Seo, Seok Kyo, Yang, Hyo In, Lim, Kyung Jin, Jeon, Young Eun, Choi, Young Sik, Cho, SiHyun, Lee, Byung Seok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.09.2012
• Subjects: 17 beta -Estradiol; Aged; Alendronate - therapeutic use; Androstenes - therapeutic use; Bone Density; Bone Density Conservation Agents; Bone Diseases, Metabolic - drug therapy; Cartilage - drug effects; Cartilage - physiopathology; Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein; Estradiol - therapeutic use; Extracellular Matrix Proteins - blood; Female; Glycoproteins - blood; Humans; Matrilin Proteins; Middle Aged; Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; Original Article; Osteoarthritis - prevention & control; Osteocalcin - blood; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - drug therapy; Postmenopause - physiology; Alendronate; Osteoarthritis; Menopause; Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein; Estrogen
• ISSN: 0378-7346; 1423-002X
• DOI: 10.1159/000339934

Background: Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is a biomarker for joint destruction and its serum levels are used for assessing therapeutic efficacy. This study aims to compare changes in serum COMP levels in postmenopausal women with osteopenia/osteoporosis receiving estrogen and alendronate. Methods: A total of 62 postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis were treated with either estrogen (17β-estradiol 1 mg, n = 30) or bisphosphonate (alendronate 5 mg, n = 32) for 6 months. The controls were healthy postmenopausal women (n = 30). Serum COMP and osteocalcin levels were measured at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. Results: Estrogen decreased levels of COMP at 6 months compared to baseline levels (–8.35 ± 19.38%), whereas the bisphosphonate and control groups resulted in no significant changes (–5.50 ± 18.69 and –1.49 ± 25.34%, respectively). Concentrations of osteocalcin decreased significantly in both treatment groups (estrogen –25.60 ± 24.42% and alendronate –13.76 ± 23.89%, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between changes after 6 months in COMP and osteocalcin (R = 0.48, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Postmenopausal women treated with estrogen showed significantly decreased levels of COMP after 6 months. Estrogen might provide a further treatment modality in the prevention of joint destruction.