[Effective utilization of metabolic markers of bone]

Although long-term treatment is essential to reduce osteoporotic fracture, the treatment is often interrupted, because patients or even physicians cannot recognize the effects of the treatment. The less power of the drugs to increase BMD, low precision of BMD measurement, and/or deformity of lumbar spine are responsible for the low recognition. Bisphosphonate and estrogen replacement therapy reduce the resorption of bone, which can be recognized by the measurement of resorption markers, such as NTX or deoxypyridinoline. Measuring these markers before and after the treatment, patients and physicians can recognize the effect within 1-3 months, which magnitude is usually more than the least significant levels. Confirmation of the effectiveness of the treatment through these markers may reduce the dropout rate of the treatment.