Iliac crest bone mass and remodelling in acromegaly

Abstract

Iliac crest bone biopsies from 18 patients with active acromegaly, of whom 11 had received tetracycline double-labelling, were evaluated by quantitative histomorphometry and compared with age- and sex-matched normal controls. A significant increase (P less than 0.01) was found in both cortical (175%) and trabecular (130%) bone mass. In trabecular bone, resorption surfaces and active (tetracycline-labelled) and total formation surfaces were increased (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01, respectively) causing an enhanced bone turn-over at tissue level (P less than 0.01). The increased trabecular bone mass indicates a positive net balance per remodelling cycle and, therefore, larger than normal bone remodelling units, which in part may explain the increased bone turn-over at tissue level. The activity of the osteoblasts active in mineralization (the appositional rate) was increased (P less than 0.01) and positively related to the fasting serum growth hormone levels (Rs = 0.69, P less than 0.05). The average activity of active and inactive osteoblasts (bone formation rate at basic metabolic unit (BMU) level) was insignificantly increased. The proportion of active (tetracycline labelled) to nonactive formation surfaces was normal. The bone changes were unrelated to serum levels and urinary excretions of calcium and phosphorus or to renal excretion of total and non-dialyzable hydroxyproline or cAMP.