Management of Osteoporosis in Liver Transplant Recipients

ABSTRACT

Background@#Prevention of osteoporosis and bone fracture is one of the important issues for liver transplant recipients because a long history of liver disease and lifelong use of immunosuppressants, including corticosteroids, may cause these diseases. In this study, we aimed to analyze liver recipient bone status, 10-year fracture risk, and medication history. @*Methods@#The electronic medical records of adult patients aged >40 years who received liver transplantation at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between January 2009 and June 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. On the basis of their bone mineral density and fracture history, their fracture risks were analyzed using the Korean fracture risk assessment tool. @*Results@#A total of 57 liver transplant recipients were treated with corticosteroids during a mean of 8.8 months after transplantation. 30 patients (52.6%) showed bone metabolism dysfunction such as osteopenia or osteoporosis. The 10-year femoral fracture risk was 2.1%, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry monitoring was performed, including right before liver transplantation every 27.5±19.2 months. The mean femoral bone mineral density decreased by −7.2%±7.3%. Four patients (7.0%) had a fracture after liver transplantation. Osteoporotic fracture occurred in 3 patients with osteoporosis (25.0%). Among the osteopenia patients with moderate fracture risk who were not treated with bisphosphonate, 1 patient (12.5%) had a history of bone fracture after liver transplantation. @*Conclusions@#Considering the deterioration of bone density and moderate fracture risk, medication for osteoporosis should be prescribed to liver transplant recipients with regular monitoring of bone density after transplantation.