Body composition in children after renal transplantation

This study examines changes in body composition after renal transplantation (Tx) in 16 children who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry examina tion within 6 months preceding Tx; the examination was then repeated every 6 to 12 months after Tx. Body composition was analyzed with regard to whole -body bone mineral content (BMC), lean body mass (LBM), and fat body mass ( FBM). Median BMC decreased from the initial value of +0.98 standard deviati on scores (SDS) to -0.55 SDS during the first 3 months after Tx, and a furt her decrease was noted at the end of month 6 (M6; -1.34 SDS) and M12 after Tx (-1.32 SDS). Improvement was observed during the second year after Tx (P for global changes < 0.0001). LBM and FBM also changed significantly durin g the 2 years after Tx (P = 0.006 and P = 0.0001, respectively). LBM decrea sed during the first 3 months after Tx (median change, 0.71 SDS) and remain ed less than 0 SDS in all but 4 patients. Median LBM did not decrease to le ss than -1 SDS during the entire study period. Conversely, median FBM incre ased by a median of 3.73 SDS during the first 3 months and remained elevate d during the first 12 months after Tx, with a subsequent decrease at 2 year s after Tx. No significant correlation was found between cumulative doses o f prednisone and BMC, FBM, or LBM at any Interval if absolute values were c onsidered. However, relative changes in FBM correlated significantly with r elative changes In prednisone cumulative doses. (C) 2001 by the National Ki dney Foundation, Inc.