Risk Factors for Osteoporosis in Renal Transplant Recipients

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to determine the frequency and risk factors of osteoporosis in patients who had undergone renal transplantation in our clinic and had a functional graft. MATERIAL and METHODS: This study included 92 patients who had undergone renal transplantation between 1997 and 2010 and whose bone mineral density was measured after transplantation. RESULTS: Our study included 92 patients. 57 patients (62%) were male and 35 (38%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 36 years (range: 19-62 years). According to the bone mineral density in the femur and/or lumbar vertebrae, 39 (42.4%) patients were normal, 39 (42.4%) had osteopenia and 14 (15.2%) had osteoporosis. There was no statistical relationship between the patients’ age, gender, body mass index, history of parathyroidectomy, total steroid and immunosuppressive drug dose, creatininecalcium-phosphorus-alkaline phosphatase level at the time of the bone mineral density measurement and bone mineral density (p>0,05). CONCLUSION: We did not fi nd any relationship between the above risk factors and bone mineral density. These fi ndings show that bone mineral density is not a good parameter in the follow-up of bone disease after renal transplantation.