[Markers of osteoporosis in clinical practice]

For the assessment of the degree of osteoporosis progression of use are, besides biochemical and histological investigations, also photodensitometry, microradiography and radiological examinations. The last of them are easily available and cheap and they are recommended for screening examinations. Using the cortico-diaphyseal index determined by an own method and the Singh index it was found that atrophy of the spongy bone is not parallel in conditions regarded as pathological. The simultaneous use of both indices makes possible an easy, simple and rapid assessment of the degree of bone atrophy providing a possibility of introducing prophylactic and therapeutic management.