Screening
<i>Urine test may predict women’s bone risk</i>
A simple urine test before a woman reaches menopause may predict her risk of bone fracture, researchers report published online in the journal Menopause. Several indicators of bone deterioration are known to be associated with fracture, but only women over age 65 and older men are routinely tested for them. Researchers report that levels of a substance called cross-linked N-telopeptide of Type 1 collagen or NTX, which is released into the urine when bones weaken, can predict the risk for future fracture in premenopausal, asymptomatic women. After controlling for age, weight, race and other factors, they found that women with a baseline NTX above the median were 59% more likely to have a fracture than those whose level was below the median. Women with higher than average NTX values around menopause should be targeted for a bone density scan to help identify those at risk for fracture.
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