Preliminary investigation of urine N‐telopeptide concentration as a biomarker of bone resorption in dogs receiving glucocorticoids

Abstract

This preliminary study demonstrates significant increase in urine N-telopeptide concentration in dogs receiving glucocorticoid therapy compared to control dogs. Further studies are needed to assess whether this increase in urine N-telopeptide concentration correlates with decreases in bone mineral density as has been identified in humans.

A Preliminary Study of the Effect of Hyperadrenocorticism on Calcium and Phosphate Concentrations, Parathyroid Hormone and Markers of Bone Turnover in Dogs

“…Indeed, bone loss is reported to be most rapid in humans during the first 1-6 months of glucocorticoid therapy (46,47). Similarly, increased urine NTX concentrations in dogs treated with glucocorticoids decline over time, with no significant difference from healthy control dogs after 31 days of therapy (27). Given the insidious nature of naturally occurring HAC, it is likely that affected dogs have been hypercortisolemic for weeks or months prior to presentation, potentially explaining why urine NTX concentrations are unaffected.…”

“…Unfortunately, intact PTH assays also measure large circulating inactive C-terminal fragments of PTH potentially complicating the interpretation of hyperparathyroidism (26). Finally, urine NTX concentrations are reportedly increased in dogs receiving glucocorticoids, with the severity of the increase related to higher doses and shorter duration of treatment, compared to a control population of age-matched healthy dogs (27).…”