Oral alendronate can suppress bone turnover but not fracture in kidney transplantation recipients with hyperparathyroidism and chronic kidney disease

J Bone Miner Metab. 2013 Jan;31(1):116-22. doi: 10.1007/s00774-012-0391-z. Epub 2012 Oct 18.

Abstract

Post-transplantation bone diseases negatively affect the quality of life of solid organ recipients. Secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism is a frequent complication in kidney transplantation (KTx) recipients. Treatment with immunosuppressive agents including glucocorticoids can lead to deterioration in bone metabolism in these patients. In the present study, we explored the effects of a three-year treatment period with oral alendronate (ALN) in long-term KTx recipients. Post-KTx recipients were recruited (n = 24, M/F = 12/12, mean age 52.0 ± 7.8 years) into this study. All patients were prescribed methylprednisolone (4.07 ± 0.86 mg/day) with various immunosuppressive agents. Before treatment with oral ALN (35 mg/week), the mean concentrations of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were 139.2 ± 71.4 pg/mL and 20.8 ± 4.1 ng/mL, respectively. After 36 months of ALN treatment, mean iPTH levels increased slightly (+20.9 %). Treatment with ALN reduced bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (-35.4 %), serum type I collagen N-terminal telopeptide (-31.2 %) and osteocalcin (-55.6 %) levels. ALN did not increase bone mass after 24 months. Four patients with the highest baseline iPTH levels suffered a clinical osteoporotic fracture during the 36-month ALN treatment period. Higher iPTH levels with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at baseline were associated with the incidence of new clinical fractures during ALN treatment. In conclusion, anti-resorptive therapy with ALN can suppress bone turnover even when iPTH concentration is elevated in long-term KTx recipients. However, hyperparathyroidism with CKD seems to be associated with new clinical fractures during ALN treatment.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alendronate / administration & dosage*
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / blood
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Bone Remodeling / drug effects*
  • Collagen Type I / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperparathyroidism / blood
  • Hyperparathyroidism / complications
  • Hyperparathyroidism / therapy*
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteoporotic Fractures*
  • Parathyroid Hormone / blood
  • Peptides / blood
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / blood
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / complications
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / therapy*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Collagen Type I
  • Parathyroid Hormone
  • Peptides
  • collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • Alendronate