Results:
Vertebral fractures were observed in 56.4% (n=114) of the study group.
Severe vertebral fractures were observed in 30.7% (n=62) of the
patients in vertebral X-ray evaluation. The frequency of osteoporosis
was 20.0% (53 of 264 patients), and osteopenia was 35.6% (94 of 264
patients).
BMD levels were in the normal range in 40.3% (n=46) of the subjects
with vertebral fractures. It was in the osteoporotic range in 20.1%
(n=23) and the osteopenic range in 40.3% (n=46). Serum calcium,
parathormone vitamin, and creatinine levels were similar between the
patients with and without vertebral fractures.
Femoral neck BMD was negatively correlated with age (r : −0.21,
p<0.001) and positively correlated with body mass index
(r:0.29, p<0.001). Vertebral fractures were associated with
age, duration of hemodialysis, BMI, femoral neck Z score
(R2: 37.8%, p=0.027).
Conclusion: BMD was in the normal or osteopenic range in 79.8%
in our cohort of renal transplant patients with incipient vertebral
fractures. As incipient vertebral fractures can be observed in patients
with normal BMD levels in kidney transplant recipients, conventional
X-ray screening for vertebral fractures may be beneficial for a proper
therapy decision of metabolic bone disease in kidney transplant
recipients.