Changes in bone mineral density over 18 months following kidney transplantation: the respective roles of prednisone and parathyroid hormone

Background. Prednisone is a major factor of bone loss after kidney transplantation. The role of hyperparathyroidism and immunosuppressors is less clear. Methods. Thirty‐three patients (14 men, 19 women) with ESRD were followed prospectively for 18 months after kidney transplantation. All patients received prednisone and cyclosporin A (CyA) with (n=18) or without azathioprine. Rejection episodes were treated with boluses of methylprednisolone. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry for the spine, hip and whole body (total, trunk, limbs) at 1, 12, 24, 36, 60 and 75 weeks after kidney transplantation. At the same time, blood was assayed for calcium, phosphorus, intact‐PTH, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and CyA, and 24‐h urine was assayed for Ca and P. Results. BMD at baseline was low at all skeletal sites in women, but not in men. BMD decreased significantly at the spine (−7.0±0.9%, week 24), trunk (−4.8±0.5%, week 24), total hip (−4.3±1.0%, week 36), whole body (−2.2±0.4%, week 36) and limbs (−1.0±0.7%, week 74). BMD changes over time followed three different patterns: no change or gain, continuous loss, and NADIR. For the spine and trunk, two thirds of patients had a NADIR pattern with recovery at the end of the study, and one‐quarter of patients had continuous bone loss. For the limbs, BMD rose or remained stable (n=20), decreased continuously (n=8) or had a NADIR pattern (n=5). Neither gender nor time on dialysis prior to transplantation influenced BMD changes. Patients with PTH serum concentrations below the median value 1 week after kidney transplantation (109 pg/ml) had continuous bone loss at the whole body or limbs but not at other sites. The cumulative dose of prednisone correlated negatively with BMD changes at the spine (r=−0.39, P