Tendinitis and tendon ruptures in successful renal transplant recipients.

The musculoskeletal system of 167 successful renal transplant recipients was examined for locomotor complications. Apart from avascular necrosis and spontaneous fractures, two new clinical entities were identified: tendinitis and spontaneous tendon ruptures. Tendinitis was found in the supraspinatus and calcaneal tendons in 12 patients (7.2%). Pretransplant hyperphosphatemia and posttransplant hypercalcemia were seen in patients developing tendinitis. Spontaneous tendon ruptures were observed in the calcaneal tendons in four patients (2.4%). Pretransplant hyperphosphatemia was observed in this group of patients. The cumulative dose of prednisolone was not significantly different than in asymptomatic patients.