Caracterización del compromiso óseo previo al trasplante hepático / Bone mineral density of patients with cirrhosis prior to liver transplantation

ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis is a common complication after liver transplantation. Aim: To assess bone mineral density of patients prior to liver transplantation. Material and Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of patients with liver cirrhosis, subjected to liver transplantation that had a measurement of bone mineral density prior to the operation. Results: Twenty nine of 112 transplanted patients complied with the inclusion criteria. Their mean age was 55 +/- 11 years, their body mass index was 26.9 +/- 3.2 k/m2, 73 percent were males and the period of clinical evolution prior to transplantation lasted 3.7 +/-2.9 years. Twenty four percent had an alcoholic liver disease, 21 percent C hepatitis and 14 percent non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The main risk factors for osteoporosis were medication intake in 79 percent, alcohol in 52 percent, smoking in 41 percent and concomitant diseases in 31 percent. Bone mineral density was normal in 31 percent and showed osteopenia and osteoporosis in 48 and 21 percent of patients, respectively. Patients with a normal mineral density were younger than the rest of patients (46.9 +/- 13.4 and 58.5 +/- 7.4 years respectively p < 0.01). Conclusions: Patients subjected to liver transplantation had a high frequency of osteoporosis or osteopenia prior to the surgical procedure.