Introduction: As long-term survival after kidney transplantation is possible, the incidence of medical complication among the kidney recipient increases. Osteoporosis is the one of common complication after kidney transplantation that causes profound ...
Introduction: As long-term survival after kidney transplantation is possible, the incidence of medical complication among the kidney recipient increases. Osteoporosis is the one of common complication after kidney transplantation that causes profound morbidity. Using the recipients with pre-transplant bone mineral density(BMD) data, post-transplant change of BMD was evaluated retrospectively. And this study analyzed the risk factors affecting the post-transplant BMD loss. Materials and Methods: Two hundred ninety four kidney transplant recipients from January 1996 to September 2003 were enrolled in this study. The BMD is expressed as the T-score of spine and femur. Gender, age, the presence of pre-transplant diabetes mellitus, the matching degree of ABO blood types, the mode and duration of dialysis, and the history of previous transplantation were considered as variables affecting the pre-transplant BMD and post-transplant BMD loss. Comparison analysis was performed by Student’s t-test or ANOVA. The variable that showed statistical difference (p-value<0.05) was considered as risk factor. Results: According to the pre-transplant BMD study, the mean of the spine T-score were significantly lower in the retransplant group. The mean femur T-score was significantly lower in the retransplant group, elderly recipients (more than 45 years) and female. Despite of steady bone loss for 3 years after transplantation, rapid bone loss occurred particularly in the post-transplant first year. The normal pre-transplant BMD group (T-score of spine and femur > -1.0) showed a significantly higher bone loss than abnormal pre-transplant BMD group (T-score of the spine or femur £ -1.0). According to the comparison analysis of BMD loss during post-transplant 1 year, prolonged pre-transplant hemodialysis (more than 60 months) and retransplant group were risk factors affecting the post-transplant BMD loss. In this study, ninety-eight recipient (33.3%) received anti-osteoporosis medication such as alfacalcidol, alendronate sodium, or risendronate sodium after renal transplantation. The early application of anti-osteoporosis management was effective in ameliorating the post-transplant BMD loss. However, anti-osteoporosis management after post-transplant 1 year was not effective. Conclusions: A pre-transplant evaluation of the BMD and the significant BMD loss during the first post-transplant year should not be overlooked. Prophylactic management against the bone loss should be encouraged in recipients with both a normal and abnormal pre-transplant BMD.