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To the Editor: Reduced bone mass and increased risk of fracture have been associated with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis,¹ inflammatory bowel disease,² and ankylosing spondylitis.³ Inflammatory cytokines stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption⁴ and inhibit osteoblast function.⁵ We hypothesized that serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, is associated with fracture risk.

Methods

An age-stratified sample of 1494 women (99% white), representing 77.1% of eligible participants, was randomly recruited from electoral rolls for the Geelong Osteoporosis Study.⁶ The study region is characteristic of Australia in age distribution and socioeconomic indicators. The inclusion criterion of age 65 years or older was met by 522 women. Of these, 33 were excluded because serum was unavailable for analysis and 45 were excluded for baseline use of hormone therapy or oral glucocorticoids for at least 6 months, leaving a study population of 444 women. Participants were comparable with those excluded except that . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Julie A. Pasco, PhD
juliep@barwonhealth.org.au

Mark A. Kotowicz, MBBS, FRACP; Margaret J. Henry, PhD; Geoffrey C. Nicholson, PhD, FRCP, FRACP
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences: Barwon Health
University of Melbourne
Geelong, Australia

Heather J. Spilsbury, MSc; Jeffrey D. Box, PhD
Alfred Pathology Service
Melbourne, Australia

Hans G. Schneider, MD, FRACP, FRCPA
Department of Medicine
Monash University
Melbourne, Australia

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