Role of serum P1NP measurement for monitoring treatment response in osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a generalized, essentially age related, skeletal disorder characterized by fragile bone. It is a major public health problem because of the high cumulative risk of bone fractures in affected populations. Although there is currently no cure for osteoporosis, there are effective treatments that can prevent additional bone loss by inhibiting the degradation of mature bone (antiresorptive therapy) or, ideally, reverse bone loss and thus increase bone density by stimulating the formation of new bone (anabolic therapy). Unfortunately, there is often poor adherence to and persistence with therapy in patients with osteoporosis because of the lack of timely positive reinforcement regarding the beneficial effects of treatment on bone density. Recently, however, substantial evidence has accumulated that a serum biomarker of bone formation, amino pro-peptide of type 1 collagen, can accurately identify those patients who are responding to anabolic or antiresorptive therapy within 3 months of the start of treatment. The use of this biomarker in patients being treated for osteoporosis may significantly improve therapy adherence and clinical outcomes.