Contemporary kidney transplantation has a limited impact on bone microarchitecture

• Published in: Bone Reports 2022-06, Vol.16, p.101172-101172, Article 101172
• Main Authors: Meng, Catarina, Jørgensen, Hanne Skou, Verlinden, Lieve, Bravenboer, Nathalie, de Loor, Henriette, D'Haese, Patrick C., Carmeliet, Geert, Evenepoel, Pieter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bone density; Bone histomorphometry; Chronic kidney disease – mineral and bone disorder; Full Length; Kidney transplantation; Osteoporosis; X-Ray Microtomography
• ISSN: 2352-1872; 2352-1872
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bonr.2022.101172

Bone microarchitecture is an important component of bone quality and disturbances may reduce bone strength and resistance to trauma. Kidney transplant recipients have an excess risk of fractures, and bone loss affecting both trabecular and cortical bone compartments have been demonstrated after kidney transplantation. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of kidney transplantation on trabecular and cortical bone microarchitecture, assessed by histomorphometry and micro computed tomography (μCT). Iliac crest bone biopsies, analyzed by bone histomorphometry and μCT, were performed at time of kidney transplantation and 12 months post-transplantation in an unselected cohort of 30 patients. Biochemical markers of mineral metabolism and bone turnover were measured at both time-points. At 12 months post-transplantation, bone turnover was low in 5 (17%) and normal in 25 (83%) patients. By histomorphometry, bone remodeling normalized, with decreases in eroded perimeters (4.0 to 2.1%, p = 0.02) and number of patients with marrow fibrosis (41 to 0%, p