Röntgenologische Zeichen des gestörten Calcium-Stoffwechsels bei Dialysepatienten*

Renal Osteodystrophy

The parathyroid hormone concentration in the blood measured by the ‘two-site radioimmunoassay’, which is specific for the biologically active parathyroid molecule (parathyrine), was compared with the radiological manifestations of secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) on magnification radiographs of the phalanges in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and in patients with renal allografts. Sensitivity of radiology for the diagnosis of HPT proved to be high (88%), whereas specificity was low (30%). Statistical analysis showed that there was a good correlation between the parathyrine levels and the intensity of radiological changes in the phalanges in patients with renal allografts (coefficient of Krueger-Spearman = 0.65). In patients undergoing hemodialysis the correlation between laboratory parameters and radiological changes was poor.

Hyperphosphatemia in Renal Failure

The recent recognition that hyperphosphatemia is a strong predictor of survival on dialysis has rekindled interest in the regulation and control of serum phosphate. In incipient renal failure hyperphosphatemia is prevented by increased fractional renal phosphate excretion mediated via an increase in parathyroid hormone and the novel phosphaturic hormone FGF-23 (and possibly others). At a glomerular filtration rate of approximately 30 ml/min this compensatory mechanism fails and hyperphosphatemia ensues. Pre-dialytic serum phosphate concentrations of >6 mg/dl increase cardiac mortality presumably to a large extent, but not exclusively, via promoting vascular calcification. It has recently been recognized that vascular calcification is not only a passive precipitation process following transgression of the critical Ca-x-P product, but is an active process accompanied by expression of osteoblastic bone markers in the vessel wall. Because of the recent recognition of the relation between vascular calcification and serum phosphate as well as serum calcium, there is a need for novel calcium-free phosphate binders. Currently sevelamer and lanthanum carbonate have been introduced and trivalent iron preparations are under development.

Tumorous calcinosis: a disease of its own?

Tumorous calcinosis has been considered as a disease of its own. A survey of the literature shows that only its clinical and radiological appearances are universally agreed upon, while its epidemiology and etiology are still under discussion. A genetic disorder, recurrent soft-tissue microtrauma and terminal renal failure have been put forward as causes. All of them may lead to a localized or generalized disturbance of the calcium-phosphate metabolism, which in turn could produce tumorous calcinosis. Therefore, tumorous calcinosis should be regarded as a rare manifestation of a metabolic disorder rather than a disease of own.

Skeletal X-ray findings and bone histology in patients on hemodialysis

X-ray films of the hand skeleton (mammography technique), serum chemistry, and quantitative bone histology (micromorphometry of undecalcified sections, iliac crest spongiosa) were compared in 25 patients on maintenance hemodialysis. The X-ray findings correlated better with serum PTH levels than with bone histology. Of all radiological signs of renal osteodystrophy, pronounced subperiosteal resorption (radial aspect, second finger, middle phalanx) and periosteal new bone formation (middle phalanx) correlated best with histological indicators of osteitis fibrosa. These signs were never seen in control patients. Acroosteolysis (endphalanx) and intracortical or endosteal resorption (middle phalanx) were less specific (i.e., seen even in the absence of metabolic bone disease) and correlated less with bone histology. Osteosclerosis in iliac cancellous bone was paralleled by abnormal texture of spongy bone in the proximal metaphysis of the middle phalanx (second finger).

Structural changes of cortical bone in secondary hyperparathyroidism: replacement of lamellar bone by woven bone

In femoral cortical bone of 16 uremic patients with long standing renal insufficiency an increased fraction of woven bone was found both in Haversian and in interstitial bone. Either partly resorbed Haversian systems were replaced by non lamellar woven bone or single Haversian systems showed partly well organized lamellar bone and partly disorganized non lamellar texture without signs of antecedent resorption. The replacement of lamellar bone by woven bone was measured morphometrically in undecalcified ground sections. Woven bone was defined by its lack of structural birefringence under polarized light. In advanced cases of secondary hyperparathyroidism more than 60% of cortical bone were composed of woven bone. The substitution of immature less organized woven bone for mature well orfanized lamellar bone has important implications for the biomechanical properties of the skeleton.