Lumbar Bone Mineral Density in Renal Transplant Patients on Neoral and Tacrolimus: A Four-Year Prospective Study

Abstract

One third of patients had bone loss mainly during the first year of follow-up. Bone loss was associated to higher baseline BMD, high steroid dose, and lower calcitriol levels at 1 year. Late administration of calcitriol and calcium supplements did not improve posttransplant osteopenia. More than 50% of patients were osteopenic 4 years after transplantation.