Biochemical Markers of Bone Formation in Patients with Plasma Cell Dyscrasias and Benign Osteoporosis

Myeloma-induced bone loss is related to an uncoupling of bone formation and bone resorption. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential clinical value of biochemical markers of bone formation in the work up of patients with plasma cell dyscrasias. Serum total alkaline phosphatase, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and osteocalcin (OC) were measured in 43 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM), in 40 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), in 40 patients with untreated benign vertebral osteoporosis (OPO), and in 48 healthy adults. In MM and MGUS patients, serum BAP, but not serum OC, was lower than in healthy controls (P