[INITIAL EXPERIENCE OF DENOSUMAB TREATMENT FOR OSTEOPOROSIS AFTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION]

(Purpose) Denosumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody against RANKL, which was developed for treatment of osteoporosis and prevention of fractures. However, its efficacy in patients after kidney transplantation remains unclear. Treatment cases of denosumab for osteoporosis after kidney transplantation in our department were examined. (Methods) We retrospectively reviewed four patients with osteoporosis after kidney transplantation who were treated with denosmab in our hospital. Osteoporosis was diagnosed using the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. (Results) After 12 months, bone mineral density of total lumbar spine and femoral neck increased by 5.5% and 3.0%, respectively. Biomarkers of bone turnover (Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b and Intact-procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide) markedly decreased in the first one month and remained at the low level thereafter. Obvious adverse event was not recognized and graft function was stable in all cases. (Conclusion) Denosumab was considered to be safe and effective in patients who underwent kidney transplantation.