Bone turnover markers may predict the progression of osteonecrosis of the femoral head in aged males

Background: Recent studies suggest that the imbalance of bone metabolism is associated with the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). However, limited data exist on the bone turnover markers (BTMs) in these patients compared with the healthy control (HC) comprehensively. Methods: In total, 196 participants aged 29–83 [53 patients were excluded, 70 nontraumatic ONFH (mean age 57.75±12.61; mean BMI 24.10±3.04) and 73 HC (mean age 54.04±11.12; mean BMI 23.67±3.64)] were recruited in our cross-sectional study. Osteocalcin (OC), t-P1NP (N-terminal procollagen type 1 extension pro-peptide), β-CTx (beta-isomerized type I collagen C-telopeptide breakdown products), 25-hydroxy- cholecalciferol, and parathormone (PTH) were measured using automated analyser. Results: In comparison to controls, nontraumatic ONFH patients have lower 25(OH)D levels and higher levels of t-P1NP, β-CTx and OC (P Conclusions: Both 25(OH)D deficiency and high t-P1NP were independent risk factors for nontraumatic ONFH. Our results suggest that BTMs, t-P1NP+25(OH)D model (t-P1NP ≥54.82 ng/mL and 25(OH)D ≤21.86 ng/mL), may facilitate to diagnose nontraumatic ONFH in aged male patients.