Photon absorptiometry of bone after successful renal transplantation.

Photon absorptiometric measurements of the right lower femur were carried out at regular intervals of one to three months in 58 recipients of renal transplant. (1) During the first six months after transplant 57% showed a significant and abnormal rate of loss of bone mineral (mean 11.7% per year. +/- 1.1% S.E.M.) while 30 months' after transplantation only 17% showed such a significant loss (p=0.025). (2) Eighteen months after transplantation both male and female recipients of transplants had a significantly lower mean bone mineral index than controls (p less than 0.001). (3) Male patients who developed new post-transplant fractures had a lower mean bone mineral content compared with age and sex-matched controls taken from transplant recipients without such fractures (p less than 0.01). Similarly male patients with post-transplant fractures had a significantly longer mean period on regular haemodialysis (p less than 0.05) compared with patients without such fractures. Regular photon absorptiometric measurements provide an accurate, informative and non-invasive technique for following changes of bone mineral content after successful renal transplantation.