Methods of measurement of bone turnover and clinical evaluation of osteoporosis: relevance to asthma and corticosteroid therapy.
Bone turnover can be assessed by measurements of biochemical markers. Serum alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin can be used as indices of bone formation, and hydroxyproline and pyridinium crosslinks in urine can be used to assess bone resorption. These markers are able to detect changes induced by high-dose corticosteroid therapy given by the oral or inhaled route. However, a clinical diagnosis of osteoporosis requires, in addition, the presence of at least one relatively atraumatic fracture. Fracture risk may be assessed by in vivo measurement of bone density, for which a number of new techniques, including single-photon absorptiometry, dual-photon absorptiometry, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and quantitative computed tomography, have been developed and are now in clinical use.
Rheumatology Department, City Hospital, Aberdeen, U.K.
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Reid
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001862:Bone Resorption; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D015415:Biomarkers