Objective: to evaluate urinary desoxypiridinoline (Dpd) levels in postmenopause patients, with osteoporosis or osteopenia after treatment with sodium alendronate.
Methods: a quasiexperimental study was carried out in 118 patients, aged from 41 to 69 years. According to the densitometry results and treatment received, we formed five groups: group I, patients with osteoporosis, treated with 10 mg/day of alendronate; group IIA, patients with osteopenia treated with alendronate 5 mg/day; group IIB, patients with osteopenia treated with hormonal therapy replacement (HTR); group IIIA, patients with normal densitometry treated with change of life style habits; and group IIIB, patients with normal densitometry treated with HTR. Dpd urinary levels were measured in all patients at the beginning and 60 days after. The statistical analysis was t Student paired.
Results: the group I diminished 7.8 nmol Dpd/mmol Cr with a p = 0.001. In the other groups the reduction of the urinary Dpd level was not significant.
Conclusions: in osteoporosis the urinary Dpd excretion diminishes after 60 days of treatment with 10 mg/day of sodium alendronate.