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Protective Effect of Short‐Term Calcitriol or Cyclical Etidronate on Bone Loss After Cardiac or Lung Transplantation
Author(s) -
Henderson Kathy,
Eisman John,
Keogh Anne,
MaCdonald Peter,
Glanville Allan,
Spratt Phillip,
Sambrook Philip
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of bone and mineral research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.882
H-Index - 241
eISSN - 1523-4681
pISSN - 0884-0431
DOI - 10.1359/jbmr.2001.16.3.565
Subject(s) - medicine , calcitriol , lung transplantation , transplantation , lung , urology , bone mineral , osteoporosis , surgery , vitamin d and neurology
Bone loss is most rapid in the immediate period after cardiac or lung transplantation. This randomized study compared the efficacy of 6 months of treatment with either calcitriol (1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D 3 ; 0.5 μg/day) or two cycles of etidronate plus calcium in preventing bone loss in 41 patients undergoing cardiac or lung transplantation. Patients were followed for 18 months after cessation of treatment. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). There were no significant differences between groups with respect to age or cumulative dose of prednis(ol)one or cyclosporin over the 2 years. Bone loss did not differ between groups after 6 months and, despite 6 months prophylaxis with either agent, bone loss was significant in both groups at 6 months and 12 months. However, compared with an untreated reference group, both therapies offered significant protection at 6 months and etidronate provided significant protective carryover after therapy had been discontinued. These data suggest short‐term prophylaxis with calcitriol or cyclical etidronate is partially effective in reducing bone loss after cardiac or lung transplantation but treatment needs to be continued for a longer term.