A new position paper proposes measuring specific bone turnover markers (BTMs) in patients who have initiated use of oral bisphosphonates for postmenopausal osteoporosis as a practical way to identify low adherence.
Oral bisphosphonates are common first line treatments for osteoporosis. However, approximately half of patients who begin osteoporosis treatment do not follow their prescribed treatment and/or discontinue treatment within a year. Identifying low adherence to medication – a problem commonly seen with many chronic diseases – is a critical issue as it jeopardizes the efficacy of treatment, leaving osteoporosis patients unprotected against fractures.
A newly published International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS) Working Group position paper proposes measuring specific bone turnover markers (BTMs) in patients who have initiated use of oral bisphosphonates for postmenopausal osteoporosis as a clinically feasible and practical way to identify low adherence. BTMs can reflect the early effect of the drug on bone tissue. If a low response is detected shortly after treatment has been started, this can indicate low adherence or point to underlying causes of impaired response to medication.
Related Articles
- Bone mineral density and bone metabolic markers’ status in children with neurofibromatosis type 1
- Pain prediction by serum biomarkers of bone turnover in people with knee osteoarthritis: an observational study of TRAcP5b and cathepsin K in OA
- Data on synthesis of methylene bisphosphonates and screening of their inhibitory activity towards HIV reverse transcriptase
- Methylene bisphosphonates as the inhibitors of HIV RT phosphorolytic activity
Using the findings of the TRIO study [2] as the basis for their recommendations, the Working Group recommends measuring serum PINP (procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide) and CTX (collagen type 1 C-terminal telopeptide) levels at baseline and after 3 months of initiating treatment. The timing for the assessment at 3 months is optimal because the first weeks after the prescription is given is the critical period of primary non-adherence, when patients are most likely to have discontinued treatment.
