CHANGES IN SERUM OSTEOCALCIN LEVELS IN THE FOLLOW-UP OF KIDNEY-TRANSPLANTATION

Serum osteocalcin. total alkaline phosphatase, intact parathyroid horm one (PTH). creatinine. calcium. and phosphate were determined in 23 ki dney cadaveric allograft recipients. immediately before and 0.5, 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery. Immunosuppressive treatment was based on l ow doses of corticosteroids and cyclosporin combined with antilymphobl ast globulin. The decrease in serum creatinine was accompanied by fall ing PTH concentrations. Serum osteocalcin levels were higher than norm al before kidney transplantation and diminished ar 0.5 and 1 month aft er surgery. Significant increases in serum osteocalcin concentrations were observed 3 and 6 months after kidney transplantation with a signi ficant correlation with alkaline phospha rase levels. The increase in serum osteocalcin levels observed in our transplanted patients is nor related with a parallel increase in serum creatinine levels nor with a n increment in PTH levels; it seems to reflect an increase in the oste oblastic activity, which is not altered by steroid therapy.