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Bone disease in liver transplant recipients
1Division of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Gastroenterology Clinics of North America
|June 1, 1993
Summary
Liver transplant recipients often develop osteopenic bone disease, leading to fractures. Bone loss occurs in two phases post-transplant, with unclear causes and supportive treatment for osteopenia.
Area of Science:
- Transplantation medicine
- Bone metabolism
- Hepatology
Background:
- Osteopenic bone disease and atraumatic fractures are significant complications in liver transplant recipients.
- Skeletal complications impact patient morbidity and quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the understanding of osteopenic bone disease following liver transplantation.
- To describe the biphasic nature of bone loss and the occurrence of osteonecrosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on bone disease in liver transplant recipients.
- Analysis of the temporal course of bone density changes post-transplantation.
Main Results:
- Bone loss in liver transplant recipients follows a biphasic pattern: acute early loss followed by stabilization or improvement.
- The underlying pathophysiology of post-transplant osteopenia remains poorly understood.
- Osteonecrosis is a less frequent skeletal complication, potentially linked to corticosteroid use.
Conclusions:
- Osteopenic bone disease is a major concern in liver transplant recipients requiring further research into its pathophysiology.
- Current treatment for post-transplant osteopenia is primarily supportive.
- Corticosteroid use is implicated in the development of osteonecrosis.