Deoxypyridinoline (DPD; synonyms: pyridinium crosslinks; total crosslinks; crosslinks) is a very specific marker of bone resorption and thus of osteoclast (bone resorption cell) activity. Deoxypyridoline belongs to the group of pyridinolines that occur in serum during the splitting of collagen fibrils into so-called crosslinks. In addition to DPD, pyridinoline (PYD) also occurs, but it does not exhibit the bone specificity of DPD.
The process
Material needed
- 24h collection urine
- The determination is made in relation to creatinine excretion
Preparation of the patient
- Not necessary
Disruptive factors
- None known
Standard values
| Gender | Normal value in nmol DPD/mol creatinine |
| Female | 2,3-5,4 |
| Male | 3,0-7,4 |
Indications
- Suspected bone metabolism disorders with increased bone resorption.
- Therapy control in bone metabolism disorders with increased bone resorption.
Interpretation
Interpretation of increased values
- Hyperparathyroidism, primary (parathyroid hyperfunction).
- Hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism).
- Bone metastases
- Paget’s disease (ostitis deformans) – bone disease that leads to very severe bone remodeling.
- Osteoporosis, peri- and postmenopausal
- Plasmocytoma (multiple myeloma) – disease caused by malignant (malignant) proliferation of special blood cells (plasma cells).
- Glucocorticoid therapy
Interpretation of decreased values
- Not diagnostically relevant
Further notes
- The DPD is the 1st choice marker in the question of diseases with bone resorption.
- Osteoporosis in women after menopause (menopause in women), can be detected by DPD determination even before possible detection of changes by osteodensitometry, (bone density measurement).
