[The general principles of the diagnosis of dialysis osteomalacia by the results of the histomorphometry of spongy bone].

Biopsy specimens of the bone were examined and then subjected to morphometry in 49 patients with terminal renal failure. 43 patients were on chronic hemodialysis and 6 had undergone renal transplantation. Histomorphometry permitted calculating the relative area of the bone girdles in the preparation (in %), the relative resorption area (in %), and the osteocyte count per mm2 bone girdle. It is concluded that if the area of the bone girdle in the preparation is less than 23.8%, the patient on hemodialysis may be diagnosed as having dialysis osteomalacia. The reduction of the relative reabsorption area in patients with dialysis osteomalacia is insignificant and can be used as an auxiliary sign in differential diagnosis of renal osteopathies in patients on dialysis.