ABSTRACT
Skeletal complications Most patients undergoing kidney transplantation already have some degree of renal osteodystrophy, a general term encompassing all histologic derangements of bone that may occur in uremic patients, such as hyperparathyroidism (with or without osteitis fibrosa), osteomalacia, osteosclerosis, and adynamic bone disease. In some patients more than one of these conditions may be present at the same time. After successful renal transplantation some improvement of hyperparathyroidism, aluminum-related bone disease, and amyloidosis may occur, but the introduction of immunosuppressive agents, particularly corticosteroids, may expose the patient to the risk of new bone complications, such as osteoporosis and osteonecrosis, as well as muscle and joint complications.
