A radioimmunoassay will reveal whether a patient has rapid and extensive bone loss, and is a useful tool for doctors to assess osteoporosis
A radioimmunoassay will reveal whether a patient has rapid and extensive bone loss and is a useful tool for doctors to assess osteoporosis, experts say.
Professor Ego Seeman, Endocrinologist at the Austin Hospital, Melbourne says if the test shows a high level of circulating fragments of collagen you know the patient is losing bone.
“That will help doctors in their decision-making of whether to start treatment,” he says.
“Once treatment has begun, you can then remeasure this marker. If it shows up as being undetectable, you can tell your patient with confidence they have stopped losing bone.”
This is not only a positive outcome for patients, but doctors will know their therapeutic action has been helpful, Professor Seeman says.
