The concentrations of osteocalcin and degradation products of type I collagen in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the concentrations of osteocalcin and collagen type I C-terminal telopeptides in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: 26 patients with severe pre-eclampsia and 24 healthy pregnant women were included in the study. Serum concentrations of osteocalcin and C-telopeptides--degradation products of type I collagen were determined using the ELISA method. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: In pre-eclamptic patients, the concentrations of osteocalcin and degradation products of collagen type I were significantly higher (P<0.005) when compared to healthy pregnant women. CONCLUSION: These results could suggest that there are alterations in bone metabolism in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia.