Abstract: In order to learn the changes of bone metabolism in Graves disease early, urinary deoxypyridinoline(Dpd), serum bone GLA protein(BGP), alkaline phosphatase(AKP), serum calcium, phosphorus and bone mineral density of lumbar_2～4, upper femur of 63 patients with Graves disease were tested. The result showed serum BGP and urinary Dpd were higher than the controls (P<0.05). BMD of lumbar 2～4 and the upper femur were lower than the controls (P<0.05) except those female patients younger than forty years old and those of WARD in female patients older than forty years old. The correlation analysis showed that serum BGP and urinary Dpd were positive correlated with FT₄, but not with duration of illness, serum BGP was negative correlated with femur (NECK, WARD′s triangle) (P<0.05). The results suggested that the test of BMD, urinary Dpd and serum BGP could detect the abnormal changes of bone metabolism in Graves disease, these tests were more specific and sensitive than those traditional methods.

Key words: Graves disease, bone mineral density, serum bone GLA protein, urinary deoxypyridinoline