Osteoporosis and Related Risk Factors in Renal Transplant Recipients

Decreased bone mineral density is a common problem after kidney transplantation. Osteoporosis has a major role in morbidity in these patients. We evaluated the incidence of osteoporosis and determined risk factors in 77 patients aged 17 to 50 years who had undergone renal transplantation 6 months to 2 years previously. Bone mineral densitometry was performed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The incidence of osteoporosis was 26% (20 of 77 patients). Mean (SD) age of affected patients was 34.6 (8.7) years. The most common sites of osteoporosis were the hip (osteoporotic in 19 patients [24.7%] and osteopenic in 42 [54.5%]) and the spine (osteoporotic in 6 patients [7.8%] and osteopenic in 52 [67.5%]). There was a significant relationship between posttransplantation creatinine concentration and hip osteoporosis (P = .01). No relationship was observed between osteoporosis and age, sex, body mass index, duration of hemodialysis therapy, cumulative dosage of any drugs, or use of pulsed methylprednisolone therapy. A hip or spine z score of 1 or less had no relationship to the number of steroid pulse sessions but was significantly related to the total dosage of cyclosporine (P < .001), prednisolone (P < .001), and mycophenolate mofetil (P < .05). A hip z score of less than 1 was related to the posttransplantation period (P = .02). In conclusion, osteoporosis is a frequent complication that requires detection and treatment to reduce morbidity.