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C-terminal telopeptide in blood
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Collagen type I accounts for more than 90% of the organic matrix of bone. As a result of permanent remodeling of bone tissue collagen type I is destroyed, while its fragments enter the blood. One such fragment is the cross-linked C-terminal telopeptide (molecular weight less than 2000), which is not further catabolized and excreted in the urine.
Reference values (norm) of the C-terminal telopeptide in serum
Age |
C-terminal telopeptide, ng / ml |
Men's | |
30-50 years old |
0.300-0.584 |
50-70 years old |
0.304-0.704 |
Over 70 years old |
0.394-0.854 |
Women | |
Premenopause |
0.299-0.573 |
Postmenopause |
0.556-1.008 |
With increased bone metabolism or its resorption, type I collagen breaks down faster, and thus the content of collagen fragments in the blood increases.
The concentration of C-terminal telopeptide in the blood increases during menopause and normalizes after the appointment of estrogens. In osteoporosis, the concentration of the C-terminal telopeptide correlates well with the activity of the process (including in the case of osteoporosis due to malignant tumors).
The study of the C-terminal telopeptide in the blood is shown not only to establish the activity of resorptive processes in bone tissue, but also to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment. Treatment is considered effective if the level of C-terminal telopeptide in the blood decreases within 3-6 months of therapy.
Hyperparathyroidism is accompanied by a significant increase in the concentration of C-terminal telopeptide in the serum, and its normalization is a good marker of the effectiveness of surgical treatment of adenoma or malignant tumor of parathyroid glands.
Jaundice, lipidemia cause interference and overestimate the results of determining the C-terminal telopeptide in the blood serum, and hemolysis (free hemoglobin in the plasma above 0.5 g / dl) may lead to the opposite effect.