[Spontaneous fracture and osteoporosis following renal transplantation]

The recovery of renal osteodystrophy can be achieved by renal transplantation but secondary bone changes appear after transplantation due to immunological reaction and immunosuppressive drugs. Very few cases of spontaneous fracture and osteoporosis have been documented among patients after renal transplantation. This was investigated from roentgenologic, histologic, biochemical, and immunological viewpoints in 180 transplant patients treated at Hyogo Prefectural Nishinomiya Hospital. The following conclusions were obtained. (1) Among 180 patients, spontaneous fractures occurred in 22%. (2) Pathogenesis of the fracture of transplant patient was found to be related to steroid induced osteoporosis and not to renal osteodystrophy. (3) There was no relation between spontaneous fracture and OKT4/OKT8 ratio.