Skeletal status in adolescents with end-stage renal failure: a longitudinal study

In a longitudinal study, bone status was assessed in adolescents and young adults aged 15.3+/-3.4 years at the onset of the study with end-stage renal failure (ESRF). The group consisted of 18 subjects (11 females and seven males), of whom nine patients were on hemodialysis and nine patients on peritoneal dialysis. Six patients were previous or current glucocorticoid (GCS) users. Renal failure was recognized before 6.1+/-4.1 years, and dialysis was performed for 3.0+/-2.0 years. Follow-up took placed 8.6+/-0.8 and 21.7+/-2.5 months later, and the following data were collected: bone mineral density (BMD) at the spine (s-BMD) and total body (TB-BMD) using DPX-L (Lunar, USA); quantitative ultrasound by DBM 1200 (IGEA, Italy) at the hand phalanges (Amplitude-dependent Speed of Sound, Ad-SoS), serum concentration of i-PTH, total calcium, ionized calcium and phosphate. Tanner stages were also evaluated. The mean values of BMD measurements and Ad-SoS were stable during a period of observation, and a mean Z-score for TB-BMD was significantly lower at the third versus baseline value (-1.87+/-1.75 versus -1.49+/-1.53, P<0.05). Z-scores for s-BMD and Ad-SoS decreased non-significantly. Changes in s-BMD and TB-BMD Z-scores were influenced by changes in body size and changes in biochemical parameters, and a change in Ad-SoS Z-score was not dependent on these factors. The values of second (P<0.05) and third (P<0.01) s-BMD Z-score were significantly lower in GCS treated subjects, and longitudinal change in spine Z-score was greater in GCS treated patients versus others (P<0.05). Duration of ESRF, duration and type of dialysis and gender did not influence skeletal variables. Skeletal measurements correlated significantly with Tanner stages (besides the correlation with Ad-SoS in the first measurement, r ranged from 0.5 to 0.72, P<0.05), and changes in Tanner stages observed over a period of observation did not correlate with changes in skeletal variables. Among laboratory variables, the following non-significant tendencies to change were observed: serum concentration of i-PTH and phosphate increased, and total and ionized calcium decreased. In conclusion, adolescent subjects with ESRF treated with dialysis showed stable mean values of skeletal measurements, and these were expressed as Z-scores, a tendency to drop was observed. The lack of an increase observed in normal healthy subjects of the same age, and low values in Z-scores, indicates that skeletal status is seriously affected in subjects with ESRF.