Mineral metabolism in spinal cord injury
Naftchi, N.E.; Viau, A.T.; Sell, G.H.; Lowman, E.W.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 61(3): 139-142
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9993 PMID: 7369852 Document Number: 155264
In 10 paraplegic and 10 quadriplegic subjects, bone resorption was investigated by determining urinary excretion of hydroxyproline, Ca and P. Measurements were performed weekly from the onset to 4 mo. after injury. During the first 7 wk following injury, urinary excretion of Ca in paraplegic and quadriplegic subjects reached the highest level (380 .+-. 108 mg/24 h). From 7-16 wk after injury average urinary excretion of Ca (245 .+-. 72 mg/24 h) remained significantly greater than that in controls (100 .+-. 25 mg/24 h; P < 0.05). Urinary hydroxyproline was elevated in paraplegic subjects (80 .+-. 18 mg/24 h) for 8 wk and in quadriplegic subjects (102 .+-. 37 mg/24 h) for the entire 16 wk following injury compared to that in controls (48 .+-. 12 mg/24 h; P < 0.05). Both paraplegic and quadriplegic subjects excreted more P (1.6 .+-. 0.4 g/24 h) than controls (0.85 .+-. 0.2 g/24 h; P < 0.05) only during the first 2 wk following spinal cord injury. During the acute phase of the injury (0-3 mo.), urinary excretion of Ca and Mg was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in subjects with complete spinal cord lesions compared to those with incomplete.