Bone mineral density in adults transplanted in childhood for liver disease.
BACKGROUND
It remains unclear whether bone mineral density (BMD) is compromised in adult life after liver transplantation (LT) during childhood.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of total body (TB) and lumbar spine (LS) dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, anthropometry, and data collected, which included a physical activity questionnaire.


RESULTS
Fifteen patients were enrolled. Mean age at LT was 10.6 (4.5) years (range 1.6 to 18.4). The mean posttransplant period was 12.0 (4.1) years (range 4.4 to 16.7); six were men. The mean TB BMD, 1.11 (0.12) g/cm2, was similar to LS BMD, 1.15 (0.17) g/cm2 (P=.82). The Z-score mean was lower for TB BMD, -0.92 (1.2), and LS BMD, -0.41 (1.2) (P=.22). There was no effect from gender, pretransplant cholestasis (9/15 cases), age at LT, and time since LT. BMD (Z-score) was better for those on corticosteroids (9/15 cases): TB BMD -0.42 (1.20) versus -1.77 (0.86) (P=.04); LS BMD 0.14 (1.00) versus -1.54 (1.03) (P=.03). Anthropometry Z-scores were height -0.04 (0.70), weight -0.33 (0.39), and BMI -0.32 (0.37). There was no correlation between Z-scores for BMD and any of the anthropometry parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the mean TB BMD was lower in transplanted patients than would be expected for the general population, overall BMD and anthropometry were with the normal adult ranges for adults who had undergone LT in childhood.
Khan
K
K
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. khanx020@umn.edu
Raatz
S
S
Sharp
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015519:Bone Density; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors