Evaluation of urinary N-telopeptide of type I collagen measurements in the management of osteoporosis in clinical practice

We measured urinary N-telopeptide of type I collagen (U-NTX) to monitor response to bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. Decrease in U-NTX was associated with increase in spine bone density. A lesser response in U-NTX was more likely in those with secondary osteoporosis or with poor compliance. U-NTX may be a useful early indicator of treatment non-compliance or secondary osteoporosis. This study aims to determine the utility of the bone resorption marker, U-NTX, in the clinical setting, to monitor the response to bisphosphonate therapy (alendronate and risedronate) for osteoporosis. A retrospective evaluation of data collected as part of the bone turnover marker monitoring service in the Metabolic Bone Centre, Sheffield, UK. Treatment compliance, underlying causes of osteoporosis, change in U-NTX/creatinine (Cr) at 4 months and change in spine and hip bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were recorded. Treatment response was defined as either a change in U-NTX/Cr greater than a pre-defined least significant change (LSC) of 54 % or to within the lower half of a pre-defined pre-menopausal reference interval (a parts per thousand currency sign30 nM BCE/mmol Cr). A greater decrease in U-NTX/Cr at 4 months was associated with a greater increase in spine BMD at 18 months (r = -0.33; P < 0.0001, Pearson's correlation). The mean U-NTX/Cr at 4 months was higher in patients with secondary osteoporosis compared with those with primary osteoporosis (P < 0.01, ANOVA). A lesser response in U-NTX/Cr increased the likelihood of secondary osteoporosis or poor treatment compliance (P = 0.04, Fisher's exact test). A lack of response in U-NTX/Cr to within the lower half of the reference interval was a better indicator of secondary osteoporosis and treatment non-compliance than a change in U-NTX/Cr greater than LSC. Treatment monitoring using U-NTX/Cr has a place in clinical practice for the early identification of non-compliance or presence of secondary osteoporosis.