Denosumab-Induced Hypocalcemia and Hyperparathyroidism in de novo Kidney Transplant Recipients.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to analyze risk factors of hypocalcemia and PTH increase after denosumab administration in kidney transplant recipients and assess its management.
Results Summary
Hypocalcemia was linked to lumbar osteoporosis, while PTH increase correlated with baseline bone turnover markers, 25 OH status, and eGFR. Denosumab improved bone mineral density at lumbar and femoral sites by 1.74% and 0.25%, respectively, but required continuous calcitriol supplementation for PTH control.
Population
De novo kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).
Effective Dosage
60 mg subcutaneous dose of denosumab every 6 months.
Duration
15 months.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
denosumab | increase | bone mineral density | kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) | - | increase | #1 |
denosumab administration | neutral | hypocalcemia | de novo KTRs | - | related to | #2 |
denosumab administration | increase | parathyroid hormone (PTH) level | de novo KTRs | - | increase in | #3 |
nutritional vitamin D supplementation | neutral | - | all patients | from 1,000 IU to 1,500 IU daily | received | #4 |
hypocalcemia | neutral | degree of lumbar osteoporosis | - | - | was related to | #5 |
increase in the PTH level | neutral | baseline bone turnover markers (bone alkaline phosphatase, serum osteocalcin, and β-C-terminal telopeptide) | - | - | was correlated to | #6 |
increase in the PTH level | neutral | 25 OH status | - | - | was correlated to | #7 |
increase in the PTH level | neutral | eGFR | - | - | was correlated to | #8 |
introduction of calcitriol, after the PTH increase, in addition to cholecalciferol | neutral | serum calcium | - | - | was necessary to ensure an adequate control of | #9 |
introduction of calcitriol, after the PTH increase, in addition to cholecalciferol | neutral | PTH | - | - | was necessary to ensure an adequate control of | #10 |
treatment with denosumab | increase | areal bone mineral density at lumbar site | - | mean percentual increase of 1.74% | observed an improvement of | #11 |
treatment with denosumab | increase | areal bone mineral density at femoral site | - | mean percentual increase of 0.25% | observed an improvement of | #12 |
denosumab | neutral | bone disease | KTRs | - | is an effective treatment for | #13 |
increase in PTH | neutral | - | - | - | is not a transient event but prolonged throughout the follow-up period | #14 |
increase in PTH | neutral | - | - | - | requires continuous supplementation therapy with | #15 |
INTRODUCTION: Denosumab represents a realistic treatment option to increase bone mineral density in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). It is still unknown how and at what extent posttransplantation bone disease and graft function influence the effects of denosumab on mineral metabolism indexes. In this study, we analyze risk factors of hypocalcemia and parathyroid hormone (PTH) increase after denosumab administration in eighteen de novo KTRs and its management before and after this treatment. METHODS: We conducted a monocentric, observational, prospective study on de novo KTRs. All KTRs enrolled received a single 60 mg subcutaneous dose of denosumab every 6 months. Before kidney transplantation, no patients were treated with calcio-mimetic. After kidney transplantation and before antiresorptive therapy, no patients were treated with calcio-mimetic drugs and/or vitamin D receptor agonists, while all patients received nutritional vitamin D supplementation (from 1,000 IU to 1,500 IU daily). RESULTS: Hypocalcemia was related to the degree of lumbar osteoporosis (p = 0.047); the increase in the PTH level was correlated to baseline bone turnover markers (bone alkaline phosphatase, serum osteocalcin, and β-C-terminal telopeptide), the 25 OH status, and eGFR. The introduction of calcitriol, after the PTH increase, in addition to cholecalciferol was necessary to ensure an adequate control of serum calcium and PTH during a follow-up of 15 months. Following the treatment with denosumab, it was observed an improvement of areal bone mineral density both at lumbar and femoral sites with a mean percentual increase of 1.74% and 0.25%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Denosumab is an effective treatment for bone disease in KTRs. In our study, the increase in PTH is not a transient event but prolonged throughout the follow-up period and requires continuous supplementation therapy with calcitriol.