Bone turnover and mineral metabolism in adult patients with hypophosphatasia treated with asfotase alfa

SUMMARY: There is limited understanding of how asfotase alfa affects mineral metabolism and bone turnover in adults with pediatric-onset hypophosphatasia. This study showed that adults with hypophosphatasia treated with asfotase alfa experienced significant changes in biochemical markers of bone and mineral metabolism, possibly reflecting enhanced bone remodeling of previously osteomalacic bone. INTRODUCTION: Hypophosphatasia (HPP), due to a tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) deficiency, can cause impaired bone mineralization and turnover. Although HPP may be treated with asfotase alfa, an enzyme replacement therapy, limited data are available on how treatment with asfotase alfa affects mineral metabolism and bone turnover in adults with HPP. METHODS: ALP substrates, bone turnover and mineral metabolism markers, and bone mineral density (BMD) data from EmPATHY, a single-center, observational study of adults (≥ 18 years) with pediatric-onset HPP treated with asfotase alfa (NCT03418389), were collected during routine clinical care and analyzed from baseline through 24 months of treatment. RESULTS: Data from 21 patients showed significantly increased ALP activity and reduced urine phosphoethanolamine (PEA)/creatinine (Cr) ratios after baseline through 24 months of asfotase alfa treatment. There were significant transient increases in parathyroid hormone 1-84 (PTH), osteocalcin, and procollagen type 1 N-propeptide (P1NP) levels at 3 and 6 months and in tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP5b) levels at 3 months, with a significant decrease in N-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (NTX) levels at 24 months. Lumbar spine BMD T scores continuously increased during treatment. CONCLUSION: Significant changes in bone turnover and mineral metabolism markers after asfotase alfa treatment suggest that treatment-mediated mineralization may enable remodeling and bone turnover on previously unmineralized surfaces. Urine PEA/Cr ratios may be a useful parameter in monitoring treatment during routine care. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00198-021-06025-y.