Deoxypyridinoline (Dpd) Cross-links (Serial Monitor)

The Dpd test can be used as a tool to assess bone resorption rates in healthy individuals and in patients with enhanced risk of developing metabolic bone disease. Significantly high levels of Dpd are found in children, in postmenopausal women due to estrogen deficiency, and in patients with diseases that have high bone turnover rates. Dpd can be used to monitor antiresorptive therapies in postmenopausal women and in individuals diagnosed with osteoporosis.

The account must submit the patient's Social Security number to monitor. Values obtained with different assay methods should not be used interchangeably in serial testing. It is recommended that only one assay method be used consistently to monitor each patient's course of therapy.

This test has not been established to predict development of osteoporosis or future fracture risk.

Immunochemiluminometric assay (ICMA)

Bone is constantly undergoing a process of remodeling that consists of degradation, or resorption, mediated by osteoclasts and rebuilding mediated by osteoblasts. This process is tightly coupled in individuals with healthy bone metabolism. In certain conditions, the rate of resorption exceeds the rate of rebuilding resulting in a net loss of bone. Deoxypyridinoline (Dpd) is a crosslink of type 1 collagen that provides tensile strength to the collagen matrix of bone. Dpd is released into circulation during bone resorption and is excreted unmetabolized into urine. Since Dpd levels are not affected by diet or physical exercise, urinary Dpd concentrations reflect the true rate of bone turnover.