Osteoporosis after renal transplantation: Single center experience

Background Osteoporosis is a major source of morbidity after renal transpla ntation. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the independe nt influences of different parameters on bone mineral density (BMD) in vari ous parts of the body after renal transplantation. Methods. BMD was measured in 130 of 954 renal allograft recipients who unde rwent surgery between 1985 and 1999, Results. Time since transplantation and cumulative prednisolone doses were significantly higher in patients who had osteoporosis of the lumbar vertebr ae (P=0.06 and 0.034, respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed that cumulative prednisolone dose was the only significant predictor of low vertebral BMD (P=0.02, r=0.33), For the neck of the femur, high blood urea nitrogen and low Mg levels were found to be the predictors of low bone den sity (P=0.002 and 0.04, respectively). Although parathyroid hormone levels were higher in femoral osteoporosis patients than in those not affected at this site, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.294). Time since transplantation, cumulative prednisolone dose, and cyclosporine A do se were all. found to have a major negative impact on BMD in the radius reg ion (P=0.001, 0.000, 0.001, respectively). Regression analysis showed that cumulative prednisolone dose (P=0.0008, r=0.34), time since transplantation (P=0.005, r=0.27), body mass index (P=0.01, r= -0.21), male gender (P=0.02 , r= -0.21), and age (P=0.04, r=0.16) all had major effects on radius BMD, In conclusion, the radius seems to be one of the major parts of the skeleto n affected by factors introduced after renal transplantation.