PNP Procollagen test for Osteoporosis

[piglette]

Has anyone been told they should have a PNP Procollagen blood test as a base line before handing out osteoporosis drugs such as bisphosphonates?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi piglette,

Short answer - no!

Can I ask why you’ve posed the question?

[piglette in reply to DorsetLady]

A friend of mine had a Dexascan and has been diagnosed with osteoporosis. She has seen a rheumie who wanted her to have various blood tests including this one. The internet says you should have this test before embarking on medication for osteoporosis. I had not heard of people having the test which I thought I would have done on this site particularly as we are having bisphosphonates thrust on us. My GP is always wanting me to take AA, so I thought I could come back with saying I should have this blood test first! Although my Dexascan was pretty good.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to piglette]

Okay thanks.

I’d never heard it mentioned before either, so yet another thing for patients to wrestle with! But good to be made aware - thank you.

[piglette in reply to DorsetLady]

I must admit I thought a Dexascan was good enough.

[Christophene47]

I have never heard of the test; usually the measure is Dexa Scan.But there has been some bad press about biphosphonates lately ( I don't remember what exactly), and perhaps there is a cheaper and/or better bone density test available. I just had a physician's assistant try to "sell" the idea of Reclast to me when my bone density test said 0% chance of fracture in next 10 years; mild osteopenia. I refused. Calcium is good enough. I am going to look up the PNP Procollagen test.

Curious? Are you in the US or overseas?

[piglette in reply to Christophene47]

I am in the UK. I think this test is an evaluation of bone marker. I did talk to one of the guys who was doing research into bisphosphonates who was suggesting they only be used about two years. There has been quite a lot about the bisphosphonate problems recently.

[ConventCassie]

I’m thrilled to hear this. My Internist is cool, but the Rhummy is always on the warpath and I always refuse. I don’t want any more drugs.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Pardon? It is a hepatic marker...

southend.nhs.uk/pathology-h...

And should be used when we are on methotrexate they say.

However - this

emedicine.medscape.com/arti...

discusses it and says it should not be used for diagnosis - but for monitoring. Knowledge appears to be at an early stage.

Sounds as if someone has been at a meeting ...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

Having looked it up I don’t think it is a hepatic marker. I think the Southend article is talking about something else. The emedicine one seems to have got it though. It seems that it measures how long it takes for your skeleton to renew itself which I believe is around ten years. It is used as a benchmark that can then be checked to see how well the bone tablets are working. Seems like a good idea I suppose in that you can say that you should not be on certain medication or should be even.

[Nerak12]

Hi piglets. This wax s new one on me, so looked it up. Procollagen type I N propeptide (PINP) is a blood marker test for bone formation activity according to the National Osteoporosis Society website. There’s other useful information on there about blood and irons tests too. Hope this helps. Good luck!