Intact parathyroid hormone levels in renal transplant patients with normal transplant function

Chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) is common in patients who have undergone kidney transplantation. There is limited information on the extent to which patients with normal renal function after transplantation have persistent disturbances in their mineral metabolism.

The aim of the study is to investigate the prevalence of elevated intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels at least one yr after transplantation in patients living with a first renal transplant with normal transplant function.

A retrospective, observational study of 607 patients was collected from the Norwegian Renal Registry. Of these, iPTH was recorded for 360 patients.

One hundred and eighty-eight patients (52%) had elevated iPTH levels. Twenty-six patients (7%) had iPTH levels >2.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN). Patients with a pre-emptive transplant were significantly younger than the patients who had received treatment with dialysis (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of iPTH > ULN was significantly higher in patients with a pre-emptive transplant (p = 0.037).

In post-transplant patients with normal transplant function, our data indicate that more than 50% have elevated levels of iPTH more than one yr after transplantation. If elevated iPTH level is associated with mortality in this patient population, it may have major impact on clinical treatment guidelines.