Is DEXA scan results reliable?

[barani19]

Hi All,

I did a DEXA scan last year and found my Z score over my spine has improved considerably. I'm still confused if I should go for DEXA scan this year.

I did some reading and found that Procollagen Type 1 N propeptide (P1NP) test for bone formation and the C-terminal telopeptide, sCTX1 test for bone resorption are much more accurate.

Has any one of you did these blood tests before?

[ORdogmom]

I had the C Telopeptide done before starting Alendronate, and then 3 months afterwards. My before number was something like 851 (you want it to be low, the top of the scale is 1050 or something like that) and after 3 months of Alendronate (generic Fossamax), it had gone down to 221. I have to wait a year and a half before my next Dexa, so I do not know how that correlates with my bone density yet.

My Rheumatologist does not normally run the Bone Turnover Marker tests, but was willing when I asked for them. He just goes based on the Dexa numbers.

[barani19 in reply to ORdogmom]

ORdogmom ,

Thanks a lot for sharing this useful information. Do you wanna check with your Rheumatologist on the Procollagen Type 1 N propeptide (P1NP) test as well?

[ORdogmom in reply to barani19]

when I spoke to him, I just said Bone Marker Test, and this is what he ordered. To see how the Alendronate is working, I would have had to get a baseline number before starting on the Alendronate, so it is too late for that.