The relationship of biochemical and histometric determinants of uremic bone

Simultaneous histometric and biochemical analyses were performed on 16 bone biopsy specimens taken from eight patients with chronic renal failure. The bone calcium and phosphorus contents are inversely related to the relative volume of microscopically measured, nonmineralized bone matrix (osteoid) and to the percentage of trabecular surface covered by this tissue. The magnesium content of uremic bone is positively correlated with the quantity of osteoid. Skeletal calcium and phosphorus contents correlate inversely with the osteoblast population, and phosphorus relates directly to the volume of trabecular bone. Bone hydroxyproline content does not correlate significantly with any histometric variable. As one may now infer biochemical conclusions about the uremic skeleton from morphological observations, these data may facilitate interpretation of nondecalcified histological sections of bone.