Benefits of laboratory diagnosis of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is inevitably becoming one of the most common diseases in the modern world, affecting large numbers of people.

Osteoporosis develops over a long period of time, leaving enough time to take life-saving measures. In such conditions, diagnosis of osteoporosis becomes more and more important, especially when a person does not feel any signs of the disease. And only the diagnosis of osteoporosis reveals the condition in which the bone tissue is located and helps prevent the occurrence of fractures.

For these purposes, the diagnosis of osteoporosis currently uses several methods: X-ray examination, computed tomography, ultrasound densitometry, biochemical test, etc. Osteoporosis is diagnosed in the OLYMP СDL branches using markers of metabolic processes in bone: osteocalcin, the level of which is determined in blood serum, and beta-СrossLaps.

Osteocalcin gives us information about bone formation by entering the bloodstream during osteosynthesis. Depending on the severity of this process, osteocalcin levels may be elevated or normal in osteoporosis.

Вeta-СrossLaps is an early marker of osteoporosis. A degradation product of type 1 collagen, which makes up more than 90% of the organic matrix of bone. Normally, small fragments of collagen enter the blood and are excreted by the kidneys with urine. In physiological or pathological increased bone resorption (e.g., in old age or as a result of osteoporosis), the content of its fragments in serum increases. Against the background of anti-osteoporosis therapy, serum b-CrossLaps levels gradually return to normal.

Activity of bone-forming and bone-destroying cells reflects such indicator as alkaline phosphatase. But this indicator is characterised by lower sensitivity.

The mechanisms of osteoporosis development are also reflected by the indices of various hormones (estrogens, parathyroid and thyroid hormones, calcitonin, etc.), calcium, phosphorus and magnesium concentrations in blood and in morning urine. The ratio of these markers in the diagnosis of osteoporosis can be used to judge bone changes and predict the risk of fracture. The higher the values of bone metabolism by laboratory diagnosis, compared with normal values, the greater the need for prescribing serious drug therapy.

Biochemical diagnostics of osteoporosis reveals early changes in bones and allows already in 2-3 months to assess the effectiveness of the prescribed therapy.

Screening to diagnose osteoporosis is indicated every two years for women over 45 years of age and for men over 65 years of age.