Serum Bone Gla-Protein Compared to Bone Histomorphometry in Hemodialyzed Patients

Bone gla-protein (BGP), also called osteocalcin1,2, is the most abundant non-collagenous bone protein. BGP is synthesized by the osteoblasts, is concentrated in the bone matrix and also found circulating in the blood. The measurement of BGP in serum by radioimmunoassay3 has proved to be a useful tool for assessing bone turnover in a variety of metabolic or endocrine bone diseascs4–6 and more specifically bone formation in osteoporosis7.