Correlation of bone histology with parathyroid hormone, vitamin D3, and radiology in end-stage renal disease.

Correlation of bone histology with parathyroid hormone, vitamin D 3 , and radiology in end-stage renal disease. We analyzed transiliac bone biopsy specimens from 30 end-stage renal failure patients, taken at the time of admission for CAPD training. Results were compared with values of iPTH, bone alkaline phosphatase, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 , skeletal survey, quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and single photon absorptiometry (SPA) bone density measurements. Osteitis fibrosa was the most common histological diagnosis, present in 15 of the 30 patients (50%), with eight classified as "severe" and seven as "mild". Eight patients (27%) had adynamic bone lesion, four mixed renal osteodystrophy (13%), and two (7%) osteomalacia. The mean age of the adynamic group was higher than the osteitis fibrosa group (41 ± 12.1 vs. 56 ± 10.2 years; P 90%) had bone density measurements within the normal range. No significant correlation existed between QCT or SPA scores and any of the histomorphometric parameters, or iPTH. We conclude that iPTH is the most helpful non-invasive investigation in this group of patients. Plain X-ray of the hands is the most useful radiological investigation, but single measurements of bone density are not diagnostic.