Open AccessPreventing Bone Loss in Renal Transplant Recipients with Vitamin D
Author(s) -
Amgad E. ElAgroudy,
Amr El-Husseini,
Moharam ElSayed,
Mohamed A. Ghoneim
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of the american society of nephrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.451
H-Index - 279
eISSN - 1533-3450
pISSN - 1046-6673
DOI - 10.1097/01.asn.0000093255.56474.b4
Subject(s) - renal transplant , medicine , vitamin d and neurology , intensive care medicine , urology , transplantation
. Very rapid bone loss, osteopenia, and osteoporosis have been documented in the first 6 to 12 mo after renal transplantation. Investigated was the effect of treatment with active vitamin D on the prevention of posttransplantation bone loss. Forty adult men who were recent renal transplant recipients were enrolled onto the study. Patients were randomized into two groups: group 1 received daily alfacalcidol 0.5 μg by mouth, and group 2 (control) received placebo. Every patient in both groups received daily 500-mg calcium carbonate supplements. Parameters of bone metabolism and bone mineral density measured at three sites were assessed before and after the study period. Bone mineral density was increased by 2.1%, 1.8%, and 3.2% at lumbar spine, femoral neck, and forearm, respectively, in group 1, whereas it decreased by 3.2%, 3.8%, and 1.8% at the same sites in the control group ( P < 0.05). Serum intact parathyroid hormone level decreased significantly in group 1 compared with the control group ( P = 0.003). Early bone loss that occurs during the first 1 yr after renal transplantation could be prevented by alfacalcidol. Use of alfacalcidol early after transplantation is safe and well tolerated. E-mail: amgadelbaz@ahram0505.net