삼상골스캔을 이용한 골 섭취도의 평가는 비교적 간단한 방법으로 이것으로 평가한 만성 신부전환자 14명의 골 섭취도는 정상인 보다 유의하게 증가되어 있었다. 또한 골 모세포의 활동성의 지표로 알려진 osteocalcin과 골 대사 호르몬인 부갑상선 호르몬의 혈중농도도 정상대조군에 비하여 만성 신부전 환자에서 월등하게 높았다. 하지만 이렇게 산출한 골 섭취도와 osteocalcin, 부갑상선 호르몬 사이에는 직접적인 연관성은 미약하였다. 따라서 삼상골스캔을 이용한 골 섭취도의 정량화가 보다 객관적인 평가 방법이라고 인정받기 위하여서는 좀 더 많은 연구가 필요하다고 본다.
In this preliminary study, plasma osteocalcin, PTH level and $^{99m}Tc$-HMDP (hydro-xymetylene diphosphonate) bone uptake(BU) were measured in 14 patients with chronic end-stage renal failure who were on maintenance hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to determine the difference of bone uptake between renal failure patients and normal volunteers, and to determine the correlation between bone uptake and osteocalcin - a sensitive and specific marker of osteoblastic activity and PTH - a important hormone of bone metabolism. There was a statistically significant increase in 180 minute uptake in the patient group when compared to the normal volunteers while there was no statistically significant difference in 20 minute uptake. Plasma osteocalcin and PTH levels were also significantly elevated compared to normal values. But the correlation between osteocalcin, PTH and 20 and 180 minute bone uptake was not significant. In conclusion, our preliminary study suggests that, in chronic renal failure patients, 180 minute $^{99m}Tc$-HMDP bone uptake is increased significantly without direct correlation with serum osteocalcin or PTH levels. It seems that further study is needed to evaluate other unknown factors that may influence the direct correlation between bone uptake and plasma osteocalcin and PTH in patients with chronic renal failure.
