[Biochemical markers of bone metabolism and bone tissue losses after allotransplantation of the cadaveric kidney: a cross-sectional].

The biochemical markers of bone metabolism (osteocalcin (OC), C- and N-terminal procollagen I propeptides (PICP) and PINP), bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), deoxypyridinoline (DPD), beta-crosslaps (beta-CL), bone acid phosphatase (BAP), osteoprotegerin (OPG), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and parathyroid hormone (PTH)), daily urinary calcium excretion (DUCE) (intestinal calcium absorption), and lumbar and hip bone mineral density (BMD) were determined in 195 patients (78 females and 74 males with normal function of the grafted kidney and 11 females and 31 males with chronic renal failure (CRF) 40 +/- 33 months after renal transplantation (RT). All RT recipients received triple immunosuppressive therapy (cyclosporin, prednisolone, and azathioprine). All groups showed a significant increase in resorption markers and a moderate increase in bone formation markers (except BALP), which suggested bone remodeling dissociation, as well as elevated levels of PTH and OPG and decreased DUCE and BMD in the vertebral column and hip. Increased bone metabolism and decreased intestinal calcium absorption were largely pronounced in CRF. In the majority of recipients, the BMD reduction in the vertebral column and hip was moderate (osteopenia) and only in male recipients with CRF, axial osteopenia was concurrent with peripheral osteoporosis. The main predictor of accelerated bone metabolism and BMD losses following RT was hyperparathyroidism mainly caused by decreased renal graft function. Decreased IGF-I may be a cause of bone remodeling dissociation after RT/ and the increase in OPG seems to be compensatory, which suppresses bone resorption and reduces bone losses.