Alendronate is effective to treat bone loss in renal transplantation recipients.
Bone loss is a common complication among renal transplant patients. Some studies have shown that alendronate may be effective to treat bone loss in these patients. In this study, we have reported our experience with administration of alendronate to treat bone loss in renal transplanted patients.


METHODS
The 46 kidney transplant recipients with bone loss were randomly divided into 2 groups: group I was treated with calcium and calcitriol, and group II with calcium, calcitriol, and alendronate. We examined bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical indicators of both groups. All patients received cyclosporine and prednisone treatment.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in age, body mass index, gender, immunosuppression, time since transplantation, 25(OH)D(3), or intact parathyroid hormone levels at study commencement. The BMD of the femoral neck was significantly increased (P < .05), and the serum type I collagen-cross-linked N telopeptide (NTx) dramatically (P < .05) decreased in posttransplantation group II recipients treated with calcium, calcitriol, and alendronate. There were also significant differences in BMD and serum NTx between recipients treated with versus without alendronate (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
At least in the short term, alendronate is a effective inhibitor for the treatment of bone loss in renal transplantation patients.
Lan
G
G
Center of Organ Transplantation, Second XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Peng
L
L
Xie
X
X
Peng
F
F
Wang
Y
Y
Yu
S
S
D000328:Adult; D019386:Alendronate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003404:Creatinine; D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium; D019386:Alendronate