Trabecular bone score in patients with liver transplants after 1 year of risedronate treatment

Summary The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of risedronate on Trabecular Bone Score in liver transplant patients with low bone mass, during 1‐year follow‐up. In this retrospective cohort study, trabecular bone score (TBS) was calculated from dual X‐ray absorptiometry images of the lumbar spine (LS), collected from a prospective randomized open‐label 1‐year trial performed in liver recipient patients. A total of 89 patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis were randomized to receive RIS plus calcium and vitamin D3 or calcium and vitamin D3. TBS was low in both groups at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Baseline TBS at the LS showed degraded microarchitecture in 22.8% of patients, partially degraded in 40.3%, and normal values in 36.8% of the patients. After 1 year of treatment, no difference in TBS was observed between both groups. No correlations were found between bone mineral density (BMD) and TBS values at any follow‐up time point. No relationship was found between BMD, TBS or immunosuppressive drugs with incidental fracture. No significant effect in TBS was observed in liver transplant patients treated with RIS or calcium and vitamin D3 after 1 year of follow‐up. In these patients, the clinical usefulness of this new tool should be established.