Conexiant
Login
  • The Analytical Scientist
  • The Cannabis Scientist
  • The Medicine Maker
  • The Ophthalmologist
  • The Pathologist
  • The Traditional Scientist
The Pathologist
  • Explore Pathology

    Explore

    • Latest
    • Insights
    • Case Studies
    • Opinion & Personal Narratives
    • Research & Innovations
    • Product Profiles

    Featured Topics

    • Molecular Pathology
    • Infectious Disease
    • Digital Pathology

    Issues

    • Latest Issue
    • Archive
  • Subspecialties
    • Oncology
    • Histology
    • Cytology
    • Hematology
    • Endocrinology
    • Neurology
    • Microbiology & Immunology
    • Forensics
    • Pathologists' Assistants
  • Training & Education

    Career Development

    • Professional Development
    • Career Pathways
    • Workforce Trends

    Educational Resources

    • Guidelines & Recommendations
    • App Notes

    Events

    • Webinars
    • Live Events
  • Events
    • Live Events
    • Webinars
  • Profiles & Community

    People & Profiles

    • Power List
    • Voices in the Community
    • Authors & Contributors
  • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Pathology Captures
Subscribe
Subscribe

False

The Pathologist / Issues / 2017 / Feb / Bad to the Bone
Screening and monitoring

Bad to the Bone

Adherence for osteroporosis therapy is poor, but how can doctors tell if patients skip their meds?

By William Aryitey 02/23/2017 1 min read

Share

It will come as no surprise to hear that low adherence to any type of medication can lead to incomplete treatment and disease recurrence. In the case of osteoporosis, patients failing to comply with their oral bisphosphonate treatment, which is prescribed to prevent a decrease in bone mass, will likely succumb to this same problem – which is concerning since a third to half of patients don’t fully adhere to their medication (1). In an attempt to curtail this low adherence, a research group from institutes across Europe and North America, in conjunction with the International Osteoporosis Foundation and European Calcified Tissue Society Working Group, has now recommended the implementation of a screening program for oral bisphosphonate adherence (2).

What might something like this – which on the face of it appears a gargantuan task – entail? They propose the measurement of two markers of the condition, levels of which are reduced by oral bisphosphonates – PINP (procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide) and CTX (collagen type 1 C-terminal telopeptide) – before therapy begins and then three months after its initiation. After collating their results, and referencing a study comparing three different oral bisphosphonate therapies (3), they came to recommend this: if there is a significant decrease in either biomarker (over 38 percent for PINP, and over 56 percent for CTX) then it appears that the patient is being compliant and therapy should be continued, but if there is no significant decrease, the clinician should reassess the situation to establish where the issue lies. The detection rate of this screening – which the researchers use synonymously with sensitivity – is 84 percent for PINP, 87 percent for CTX, and 94.5 percent if both are measured and changes are found in at least one of the biomarkers. Though their guidelines are empirically based, the researchers do not suggest that their recommendations will directly affect patient adherence to medication. Detecting the issue is a step in the right direction, but finding an effective solution to low adherence is a different puzzle to solve.

Newsletters

Receive the latest pathologist news, personalities, education, and career development – weekly to your inbox.

Newsletter Signup Image

References

  1. P Kothawala et al., “Systemic review and meta-analysis of real-world adherence to drug therapy for osteoporosis”, Mayo Clin Proc, 82, 1493–1501 (2007). PMID: 18053457. A Diez-Perez et al., “International Osteoporosis Foundation and European Calcified Tissue Society Working Groups. Recommendations for the screening of adherence to oral bisphosphonates”, Osteopor Int, 28, 767–774 (2017). PMID: 28093634. MA Paggiosi et al., “Comparison of the effects of three oral bisphosphonate therapies on the peripheral skeleton in postmenopausal osteoporosis: the TRIO study, Osteoposos Int, 25, 2729– 2741 (2014). PMID: 25074351.

About the Author(s)

William Aryitey

My fascination with science, gaming, and writing led to my studying biology at university, while simultaneously working as an online games journalist. After university, I travelled across Europe, working on a novel and developing a game, before finding my way to Texere. As Associate Editor, I’m evolving my loves of science and writing, while continuing to pursue my passion for gaming and creative writing in a personal capacity.

More Articles by William Aryitey

Explore More in Pathology

Dive deeper into the world of pathology. Explore the latest articles, case studies, expert insights, and groundbreaking research.

False

Advertisement

Recommended

False

Related Content

Flexible Solutions With FlexVUE
Screening and monitoring
Flexible Solutions With FlexVUE

December 29, 2021

1 min read

Quickly customize your immune panels with Ultivue’s new innovation

What’s New in Infectious Disease? (December 2021)
Screening and monitoring
What’s New in Infectious Disease?

December 23, 2021

1 min read

The latest research and news on COVID-19 and the infectious disease landscape

A Pig In a Poke
Screening and monitoring
A Pig In a Poke

October 21, 2016

1 min read

When importing livestock for food or breeding, European countries may inadvertently open their borders to superbugs as well

Sneaky Superbugs
Screening and monitoring
Sneaky Superbugs

October 21, 2016

1 min read

Norway’s strict LA-MRSA transmission measures prevent the import of almost all live pigs – but the bacteria have found a new way in

False

The Pathologist
Subscribe

About

  • About Us
  • Work at Conexiant Europe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 Texere Publishing Limited (trading as Conexiant), with registered number 08113419 whose registered office is at Booths No. 1, Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford, England, WA16 8GS.