1991 Volume 28 Issue 2 Pages 200-204
The relationship between arteriosclerosis and osteoporosis (OP) was assessed in 20 elderly women. The aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) was used as the index of arteriosclerosis and bone mineral content (BM) of the vertebral body, which was measured by quantitative computed tomography, was used as an index of OP. PWV and BM showed a significant correlation with aging (PWV and age: r=0.466, p<0.05, BM and age: r=-0.487, p<0.05). In the group in which the serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was higher than 180IU/l (n=11), there was a significant inverse correlation between PWV and BM (r=-0.728, p<0.02). On the other hand, there was no correlation between PWV and BM in the group in which ALP was lower than 180IU/l (n=9). These results suggest that in cases with OP and high levels of ALP, calcium (Ca) seems to be released from the bone system and transferred to the wall of the aorta. The mechanism and pathogenesis of this Ca transference is unknown and should be investigated.
