Relationship between immunosuppression and osteoporosis in an outpatient liver transplant clinic.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between immunosuppression, disease state, and osteoporosis in an outpatient liver transplant clinic.

METHODS: All liver transplant recipients visiting an outpatient transplant clinic received bone density scanning with a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) device of the calcaneal bone after completing a questionnaire assessing risk and medications currently being used.

RESULTS: Of the 137 liver transplant (OLT) recipients completing questionnaires and receiving DEXA screening, patients with low bone density (n = 50) were older (56.6 +/- 12.7 years vs 50.2 +/- 10.1 years; P = .02) compared with normal density patients (n = 87) and were predominately female (64.0% vs 35.6%; P = .01). Based on disease state, patients with cholestatic liver failure had lower bone calcaneal area (17.3 +/- 1.3 cm2 vs 18.9 +/- 1.57 cm2; P < .01). Patients taking tacrolimus (n = 112), as compared with cyclosporine (n = 25), had a tendency toward fewer findings of low bone density (37.5% [42 of 112] vs 56.0% [14 of 25]; P = .08) but had more risk factors (3.1 +/- 1.2 vs 2.1 +/- 0.8; P = .001) and a higher prednisone dose (4.4 +/- 5.9 mg/d vs 2.1 +/- 3.8 mg/d; P = .026). For patients weaned from prednisone, the tacrolimus patients were less likely to have low bone density (36.2% vs 68.8%; P = .02). Mycophenolate mofetil did not influence bone density or area measured.

CONCLUSIONS: After liver transplantation, patients taking cyclosporine were more likely to have low bone density compared with those taking tacrolimus.