Mineral content of the skeleton in chronic kidney insufficiency treated with dialysis and after kidney transplantation. Results of isotope densitometry

: By means of a photon densitometer utilizing a 125I-source, bone mineral content was measured in 15 chronic renal failure patients on conservative management, 46 patients on maintenance hemodialysis and 20 patients after renal transplantation. The determinations were made at 4 sites in both radius and tibia. In patients with chronic renal failure on conservative treatment the bone mineral content did not differ significantly from that in normals. Patients on hemodialysis showed a low bone mineral content in 61 percent of females and 53 percent of males. Especially low values were obtained from 5 females who had undergone bilateral nephrectomy. After renal transplantation all female patients showed low values, whereas 50 percent of male patients showed decreased values. No correlations were found between bone mineral content and serum parameters (calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine), duration of renal failure, hemodialysis treatment or steroid medication.