Is there a place for bone turnover markers in the assessment of osteoporosis and its treatment?
As populations age, the number of osteoporotic fractures will increase. Bone mineral density (BMD) measurement remains the major way to diagnose osteoporosis and to indicate therapy. The FRAX tool, based on clinical risk factors, estimates the 10-year risk of hip and major osteoporotic fractures. The association of BMD and FRAX measurements has improved the identification of patients who are most at risk. However, some patients can still be overlooked and denied therapy. It is sound that adding the measure of bone turnover markers to the former risk factors and their follow-up during therapy could best address the efficacy of treatment of osteoporosis. Whether this behavior is cost-effective remains to be settled.
Division of Rheumatology and Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, UCL 5390, Université Catholique de Louvain in Brussels, Saint-Luc University Hospital, Avenue Hippocrate 10, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. devogelaer@ruma.ucl.ac.be
Jean-Pierre
JP
Devogelaer
Yves
Y
Boutsen
Damien
D
Gruson
Daniel
D
Manicourt
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents