Biochemical and clinical manifestations in adults with hypophosphatasia: a national cross-sectional study

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Summary: Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare disease affecting bone mineralization. Adults with HPP have an increased occurrence of low-energy fractures, which cannot be explained by reduced bone mass assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The bone phenotype in adults with HPP requires further studies investigating bone strength and bone structural parameters. Introduction: Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare inherited disorder of bone and mineral metabolism, characterized by broad-ranging clinical manifestations and severity. However, studies investigating the clinical spectrum in adults with HPP compared to a control group are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate biochemical and clinical characteristics as well as bone health in a Danish cohort of adults with HPP. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study assessing biochemical parameters, fracture prevalence, bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers, physical performance and pain characteristics in 40 adults with HPP and 40 sex-, age-, BMI- and menopausal status-matched healthy controls. Results: Patients with HPP had a significantly higher prevalence of non-vertebral, low-energy fractures (p = < 0.001). BMD at the lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck, forearm and whole body did not differ between the groups. Low levels of the bone-specific alkaline phosphatase correlated significantly with higher BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck in both groups. The bone formation marker N-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen was significantly lower in patients with HPP than healthy controls (p = 0.006). Adults with HPP had significantly reduced walking capability (p = < 0.001) and lower body strength (p = < 0.001). Chronic pain was significantly more prevalent in adults with HPP than the control group (p = 0.029). Conclusions: The increased occurrence of low-energy fractures in adults with HPP is not explained by low BMD. Adults with HPP have reduced physical performance when compared with healthy controls.

Original languageEnglish
JournalOsteoporosis International
Volume33
Pages (from-to)2595–2605
Number of pages11
ISSN0937-941X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, International Osteoporosis Foundation and Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation.

    Research areas

  • ALPL, BMD, Bone turnover, Hypophosphatasia, Pain, Physical activity

ID: 321476650