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Variation in the PTH Gene, Hip Fracture, and Femoral Neck Geometry in Elderly Women

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Abstract

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a principal regulator of calcium homeostasis. Previously, we studied single-nucleotide polymorphisms present in the major genes in the PTH pathway (PTH, PTHrP, PTHR1, PTHR2) in relation to bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture incidence. We found that haplotypes of the PTH gene were associated with fracture risk independent of BMD. In the present study, we evaluated the relationship between PTH haplotypes and femoral neck bone size. Hip structure analysis and BMD of the femoral neck was assessed by DXA in elderly women from the Malmö Osteoporosis Prospective Risk Assessment study. Data on hip fracture, sustained as a result of low trauma, after the age of 45 years were also analyzed. Haplotypes derived from six polymorphisms in the PTH locus were analyzed in 750 women. Carriers of haplotype 9 had lower values for hip geometry parameters cross-sectional moment of inertia (P = 0.029), femoral neck width (P = 0.049), and section modulous (P = 0.06), suggestive of increased fracture risk at the hip. However, this did not translate into an increased incidence of hip fracture in the studied population. Women who suffered a hip fracture compared to those who had not had longer hip axis length (HAL) (P < 0.001). HAL was not significantly different among haplotypes. Polymorphisms in the PTH gene are associated with differences in aspects of femoral neck geometry in elderly women; however, the major predictor of hip fracture in our population was HAL, to which PTH gene variation does not contribute significantly.

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Acknowledgements

Support for the study was received from the Swedish Research Council (grant K2009-53X-14691-07-3), the Greta and Johan Kock Foundation, the A. Påhlsson Foundation, the A. Osterlund Foundation, the Malmö University Hospital Research Foundation, the Research and Development Council of Region Skåne (Sweden), and the Swedish Medical Society. Thanks are also extended to Jan-Åke Nilsson for statistical advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical and Molecular Osteoporosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Science Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    M. Tenne, F. E. McGuigan, H. Ahlborg & K. Åkesson

  2. Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    P. Gerdhem

  3. Department of Orthopedics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    P. Gerdhem

  4. Department of Orthopedics, Malmö University Hospital, 205 02, Malmö, Sweden

    K. Åkesson

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  1. M. Tenne
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  2. F. E. McGuigan
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  3. H. Ahlborg
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  4. P. Gerdhem
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  5. K. Åkesson
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Correspondence to K. Åkesson.

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Tenne, M., McGuigan, F.E., Ahlborg, H. et al. Variation in the PTH Gene, Hip Fracture, and Femoral Neck Geometry in Elderly Women. Calcif Tissue Int 86, 359–366 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-010-9351-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-010-9351-6

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