During teriparatide therapy, which lab values should be monitored?

• A. Potassium, magnesium, and phosphate
• B. Calcium alone
• C. Calcium, alkaline phosphatase, and uric acid
• D. Sodium and chloride

Answer: (C)

Teriparatide is an anabolic therapy that stimulates osteoblasts to form bone, so labs you monitor should reflect both calcium balance and bone turnover. Serum calcium is watched because this drug can raise calcium levels, and hypercalcemia can occur and needs attention. Alkaline phosphatase, particularly the bone-specific form, rises with osteoblastic activity and serves as a marker of bone formation—tracking it helps gauge how strongly the therapy is activating bone formation. Uric acid is monitored because increased bone turnover can elevate purine metabolism, potentially raising uric acid and increasing the risk of hyperuricemia or gout in some patients. These three labs together give a practical view of response and safety during teriparatide therapy; the other electrolytes listed don’t directly reflect the bone-forming action or the main risks of this treatment.