Response of Serum Carboxylated and Undercarboxylated Osteocalcin to Risedronate Monotherapy and Combined Therapy with Vitamin K2 in Corticosteroid-Treated Patients: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the responses of serum osteocalcin (OC), undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) and N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) to corticosteroids, and to examine the effects of risedronate therapy with or without vitamin K(2) supplementation on bone metabolic markers in corticosteroid-treated patients. METHODS: Sixteen patients on corticosteroid therapy for neuromuscular disorders were assigned randomly to 2 groups (A: risedronate monotherapy, n=8; B: combined risedronate and vitamin K(2) therapy, n=8) and treated for 1 year. Another 6 patients who received intravenous steroid pulse therapy were assigned to group C for investigation of the effects of corticosteroids on OC and ucOC 1 month after pulse therapy. RESULTS: Serial measurements revealed that significant decreases of OC, ucOC and NTx persisted with a similar time course profile during 1 year of treatment in groups A and B, and between-group analysis failed to demonstrate any additional effects of vitamin K(2) on risedronate therapy. Intravenous steroid pulse therapy induced a transient depression of OC and ucOC within 1 week in group C. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that serum concentrations of OC and ucOC become consistently low during corticosteroid administration despite risedronate therapy with or without vitamin K(2) supplementation, and the serum ucOC level may not be a reliable indicator of vitamin K status under corticosteroid administration.