Purpose: The decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) is a major complication after kidney transplantation. This was reported to occur preferentially during the first 6 months. However, the treatment and prevention strategies against a decline of BMD are not yet clear.
Methods: The data on the pre-transplant baseline and post-transplant 1 year BMD were archived and retrieved in 125 renal transplant recipients. The post-transplant changes of the BMD were compared by the baseline status of the BMD and the types of anti-osteoporosis treatment either with a vitamin D agent (alfacalcidiol) (n=18) or alendronate (n=21). Anti-osteoporosis treatment began within 30 days after transplantation, with an oral administration of 0.5 mcg/day vitamin D or 70 mg/week alendronate, and maintained until 1 year after transplantation.
Results: Regardless the degree of baseline BMD status, each group (the control, vitamin D, or alendronate group) showed a significant and uniform decrease of BMD during the post-transplant 1 year. The mean change in the spine BMD in the control, vitamin D, and alendronate group was -7.1±7.5%, -3.3±7.4% and -2.6±6.5%, respectively. The femur BMD also changed -5.1±7.7%, 1.1±5.3% and -1.5±8.2%, respectively. The degree of BMD decrease in the treatment groups was significantly lower than that in the control (P=0.014 in spine, P=0.003 in femur). When the severely reduced baseline BMD (T-score of spine or femur ≤-1) subgroups were analysed separately, the treatment groups (-3.7±6.5% in vitamin D and -1.1±6.4% in alendronate group) showed a significantly less decrease in the spine BMD than the control (-8.2±6.2%)(P=0.036). The femur BMD also showed a less decrease in the BMD in the treatment group, but this was not statistically significant (P=0.234). There was no significant difference between the vitamin D and alendronate treatment groups.
Conclusion: After renal transplantation, early administration of vitamin D or alendronate showed some benefit to reduce the post-transplant decrease of BMD in both spine and femur area. (J Korean Soc Transplant 2005;19:27-35)
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