Renal osteodystrophy and biochemical markers of bone turnover

Renal osteodystrophy which associates with high rates of morbidity in patients with chronic renal failure is not an uniform metabolic bone disease. Although bone histomorphometry is the most reliable diagnostic method, several biochemical markers have been proposed for evaluation of bone turnover in hemodialysis patients. This review assesses the value and the limitations of several serum markers of bone metabolism in patients with chronic renal failure.