DUAL-ENERGY X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY VERSUS SKINFOLD MEASUREMENTS IN THE ASSESSMENT OF TOTAL-BODY FAT IN RENAL-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Traditional methods for estimating total body fat rely on the assumpti on that body fat distribution and bone mineral content are constant. H owever, in patients undergoing renal transplantation rapid changes in body composition occur, with variations in fat distribution and bone m ineral content. In order to determine the reliability of skinfold meas urement (SFM) in these patients, we compared it with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), which estimates body composition without relia nce on assumptions of constant fat distribution and bone mineral conte nt. Thirty-four adult renal transplant recipients were studied at the time of transplantation and again after 3 and 6 months. The correlatio n coefficients of DEXA vs SFM at the three time points were 0.84, 0.78 , 0.85, respectively (P = 0.0001). In 34 healthy adults serving as con trols, the correlation coefficient was 0.95 (P = 0.0001). Total body f at increased progressively following renal transplantation (P < 0.03 b y 6 months) with SFM showing considerable disagreement with DEXA measu rements of percentage total body fat. Thus skinfold measurements under estimated changes in total body fat following renal transplantation, e specially in those gaining substantial amounts of body fat, and DEXA a ppeared to be a more appropriate technique.