Bone Mineral Density in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis and Effect of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Menstrual Abnormalities and Reproductive Lifespan in Females with CKD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Menstrual abnormalities and shortened reproductive lifespan are associated with shorter life expectancy and higher cardiovascular and osteoporosis risk in the general population, although the magnitude of these reproductive factor irregularities in females with CKD is unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the current knowledge regarding menstrual abnormalities and reproductive lifespan among females with CKD.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

A comprehensive bibliographic search (MEDLINE, Embase, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature [CINAHL]) was completed from database inception to February 2022 to identify all original articles reporting on females of reproductive age with nondialysis-dependent/nonkidney transplant CKD, dialysis-dependent CKD, or kidney transplantation and menstruation patterns, age of menarche, and/or menopause. Data extraction and study quality assessment were completed in duplicate. Random effects meta-analyses were used to derive pooled proportions estimates.

RESULTS

Forty-six studies were identified, and 35 were meta-analyzed, stratified by KRT modality and reported outcome. Menstrual abnormalities were present in 19%-47% of patients on hemodialysis and 75% of patients on peritoneal dialysis. Kidney transplantation was associated with a 7%-30% decrease in menstrual abnormalities. Reproductive lifespan was 32 years (95% confidence interval, 30 to 34 years). Although significant heterogeneity was present, study quality ranged from fair to good, and no evidence of publication bias was noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Menstrual abnormalities and shorter reproductive lifespan are common in females with CKD, although kidney transplantation may improve menstrual health.

Evaluation of the Fibromyalgia and Related Risk Factors in Patients with Advanced Kidney Failure Undergoing Hemodialysis

BACKGROUND

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is defined as widespread and persistent pain in the musculoskeletal system. There are limited reports regarding the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome in patients with advanced kidney failure undergoing regular hemodialysis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome and its risk factors in a large proportion of patients under the hemodialysis condition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 293 patients who were admitted to the hemodialysis ward were evaluated for fibromyalgia syndrome in an educational hospital. The questionnaire was designed according to symptom severity score (SS score) and widespread pain index (WPI) criteria. The correlation between FMS and various variables, including demographic, clinical, and biochemistry biomarkers, was also precisely calculated by logistic regression. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.17 statistics software.

RESULTS

The results showed that, of 293 hemodialysis patients, 130 patients (44.4%) had fibromyalgia, the mean age of patients with and without fibromyalgia was 61.09 ± 15.36 and 53.49 ± 15.38 years old, respectively (P = 0.001). Moreover, there was a significant difference in terms of gender among patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (P = 0.001). To note, there was no significant relationship between the kidney failure etiopathogenesis, duration of dialysis, body mass index (BMI), Kt/v index, history of peritoneal dialysis, and laboratory parameters with fibromyalgia in hemodialysis patients (P > 0.05). However, our findings revealed that both age and gender could be considered as the predictor variables associated with fibromyalgia in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, in this study, we found that age and gender would be the critical factors in terms of the fibromyalgia syndrome in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Bone mineral density in Palestinian patients with end-stage renal disease and the related clinical and biochemical factors: Cross-sectional study

Introduction

End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is the ultimate result of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In Palestine, the prevalence of ESRD was 240.3 PMP which is comparable with the nearby countries. Accelerated bone loss among ESRD patients is attributed to abnormal bone turn over that leads to osteoporosis and osteopenia. The risk of fractures is increased four-fold in men and women on hemodialysis, which explains the importance of assessing the bone mineral density among these population. The goals of this study were to find the prevalence of osteoporosis in ESRD patients as determined by bone mineral density (BMD) at different sites and to determine whether BMD correlates with many other clinical parameters.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 194 ESRD patients were recruited from the dialysis unit in An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, Palestine. The patients were on regular hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine and the hip using the dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and the value is expressed as T-score. The data were analyzed using SPSS, version 26. The relationship between BMD and the clinical and biochemical parameters among the ESRD patients was assessed.

Results

We found that 42.8% of ESRD patient had osteoporosis and 40.2% had osteopenia. There were significantly higher proportions of osteoporosis and osteopenia among patients >60 years of age (p<0.005). Patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia had significantly higher serum levels of PTH (792.9 and 469.7) (p<0.05). BMD decreases as the duration of dialysis (39.0 months Vs. 56.8 months), (p<0.05). We found no significant difference between patients on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.

Conclusion

This study showed that Palestinian patients with ESRD have low BMD at the hip and spine. The observed high serum level of PTH was associated with low BMD. Those patients should be closely monitored especially those with more than one risk factor. Moreover, more attention should be paid for these category of patients to decrease the incidence of falling down and the resulting fractures that might lead to mortality and morbidity.

Mineral bone disorder and osteoporosis in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Bone disease is common in patients undergoing hemodialysis. It is the result of bone turnover abnormalities and the decrease of bone mineral density (BMD). We aimed to determine the usefulness of serum bone turnover markers and BMD measurement by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study including 90 hemodialysis for more than 12 months. Bone mineral density was assessed by DXA. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from each patient before dialysis in a fasting state within a week of the DXA. Biochemical variables of calcium and phosphate were measured. One bone formation marker (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (bAP), one bone resorption marker (carboxy-terminal telopeptides of type 1 collagen (CTX)) were measured. Total alkaline phosphatase (TAP), intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) which is a bone-derived hormone were also measured.

RESULTS

CTX values were 6.25 times higher than the normal limit of the assay. Bone alkaline phosphatase levels were less than 10 ng/mL in 28.8% of cases. 23% of patients have osteoporosis and 45% have osteopenia. Femoral BMD had negative correlations with age and PTH levels. FGF23 levels were significantly increased in patients with osteoporosis affecting the lumbar. The levels of bAP and CTX showed a positive correlation. Both circulating bAP and CTX levels showed also positive correlations with PTH levels. Fractures, observed in 12.2% of cases, were associated with low PTH values and the existence of osteoporosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that osteoporosis and fracture are common in dialysis patients. The reduced BMD was associated with advanced age and elevated levels of PTH. Markers of bone turnover and FGF23 may play a role in the diagnosis of bone disease in hemodialysis patients. DXA measurement is necessary for the monitoring for bone loss.

Osteoporosis in Patients With Hemophilia: Single-Center Results From a Middle-Income Country

Increased number of patients with hemophilia have been identified to have osteoporosis at early ages. Low bone mineral density in the setting of hemophilia has been associated with decreased mobility, sedentary life style, on demand treatment or delayed prophylaxis, low body weight and viral infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of hemophilia on bone health of adult patients living in a middle income country. A total of 61 adult patients with hemophilia who were followed at the Hematology Department of Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa were consecutively included in this study. Bone health of the patients was assessed using the bone mineral density (BMD) and vitamin D levels. Z and t scores are used for evaluation of BMD in patients with hemophilia aged < 50 and ≥ 50 years, respectively. Information on treatment and co-morbidities including viral diseases were obtained from the medical files of the recruited patients. Bone mineral density was found normal in 30, and low in 29 patients. Vitamin D levels were below 20 ng/ml in 46 patients. No significant relationship was found between the severity of hemophilia and bone density. Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in patients who had a history of joint intervention. Neither annual bleeding rate nor the treatment modality (on demand versus prophylaxis) were associated with the bone mineral density and vitamin D levels. Annual factor consumption was higher in patients whose bone mineral densities was low both in femoral and lumbar regions. The results of this study depicting the situation of adult hemophilia population from a middle income country show that bone mineral density and vitamin D levels were decreased in a considerable amount of patients at early ages.

Bone alterations in hepatitis C virus infected patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Most studies have shown that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are affected by osteoporosis. However, liver function impairment and deranged nutrition may both play a role in the bone alterations observed. In some works no osteoporosis was found, and some cases of osteosclerosis have been reported. The aim of the study is to assess bone alterations in treatment-naïve, well-nourished HCV patients, in order to discern whether or not HCV infection causes osteoporosis.

METHODS

Whole-body bone densitometry and assessment of T-score at lumbar spine and hip were performed to 40 patients and 40 age- and sex-matched controls, with a Lunar Prodigy Advance (General Electric, Piscataway, NJ, USA). All the patients underwent liver biopsy. Nutritional evaluation was performed by subjective nutritional assessment, body mass index (BMI), and densitometric assessment of total lean mass and total fat mass. Serum osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, RANKL, PTH, crosslaps, vitamin D3, testosterone, IGF-1, and estradiol were determined.

RESULTS

Patients did not show differences in total bone mineral density (BMD) or T-score with controls. On the contrary, about a third of them showed positive T scores. Patients showed lower IGF-1, vitamin D3 and testosterone, but higher telopeptide levels, and a trend to higher osteoprotegerin levels. Multivariate analyses disclosed that age, sex, and total lean mass were the only parameters independently related with BMD.

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, chronic HCV infection in well nourished patients with preserved liver function does not cause osteoporosis.

Association between chronic hepatitis C virus infection and bone mineral density

Whether chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a risk factor for the development of bone disease has long been controversial. For this reason, chronic HCV-infected participants (n = 69) were recruited into a prospective cohort study and underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for determination of bone mineral density (BMD). Fibrosis staging was evaluated according to the noninvasive index FIB-4. T scores at the femoral neck and lumbar spine were used as the primary outcome variables to assess the association between degree of liver disease and BMD. The study cohort was 41 % male with a mean age of 53.6 years. The mean BMD, Z score, and T score values of lumbar spine in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (p < 0.001). The rate of osteoporosis for CHC patients aged 45-54 years was significantly higher than that of the control group (p = 0.011). Bone alkaline phosphatase and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen levels were also significantly higher in CHC patients with reduced BMD. Patients with more advanced liver fibrosis had significantly lower BMD. In conclusion, reduced BMD is common in this population of chronic HCV-infected patients and associated with liver disease severity. This extrahepatic manifestation is probably secondary to increased bone turnover in osteodystrophy pathogenesis.

Phalangeal quantitative ultrasound measurements in chronic hemodialysis patients: a 4-year follow-up

In the course of chronic kidney disease, bone metabolism disturbances occur and become aggravated simultaneously with the progression of renal disorder, worsening patients' quality of life. We conducted a 4-year follow-up to assess phalangeal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements in 32 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (17 males and 15 females) whose mean ages were 56.3 ± 15.2 years. The QUSs of hand phalanges were performed using DBM 1200 (IGEA, Carpi, Italy) and are expressed as amplitude-dependent speed of sound (Ad-SoS), Z-scores, and T-scores. In comparison with the age-, sex-, and body mass index-adjusted control group, QUS parameters were significantly decreased in all patients undergoing dialysis. During the 4-year follow-up, Ad-SoS and T-scores in all study groups sloped significantly with time. The significant negative relationships between follow-up Ad-SoS results and both baseline and follow-up parathormone values were demonstrated. Our results confirm a high prevalence of bone disturbances in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, and they do not improve during renal replacement therapy. The parathormone level seems to be an important agent in influencing bone status, but further studies are needed to understand the other risk factors in kidney-related bone disease.

Osteoporosis in haemophilia - an underestimated comorbidity?

A relationship between haemophilia and osteoporosis has been suggested, leading to the initiative for a larger study assessing this issue. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by osteodensitometry using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in 62 male patients with severe haemophilia A; mean age 41 +/- 13.1 years, mean body mass index (BMI) 23.5 +/- 3.6 kg m(-2). Using the clinical score suggested by the World Federation of Hemophilia, all patients were assessed to determine the severity of their arthropathy. A reduced BMD defined as osteopenia and osteoporosis by World Health Organization criteria was detected in 27/62 (43.5%) and 16/62 (25.8%) patients, respectively. Fifty-five of sixty-two (88.7%) patients suffered from haemophilic arthropathy. An increased number of affected joints and/or an increased severity were associated with lower BMD in the neck of femur. Pronounced muscle atrophy and loss of joint movement were also associated with low BMD. Furthermore, hepatitis C, low BMI and age were found to be additional risk factors for reduced BMD in the haemophiliac. Our data shows that in haemophilic patients osteoporosis represents a frequent concomitant observation. The main cause for reduced bone mass in the haemophiliac is most probably the haemophilic arthropathy being typically associated with chronic pain and loss of joint function subsequently leading to inactivity. Further studies including control groups are necessary to elucidate the impact of comorbidities such as hepatitis C or HIV on the development of osteoporosis in the haemophiliac.

Relationship between bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone turnover in hemodialysis patients

End-stage renal disease is closely associated with changes in bone and mineral metabolism. In recent times, osteoporosis has become important among hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this study, the investigators sought to evaluate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical markers of bone turnover among HD patients. A total of 70 uremic patients on a maintenance HD program for at least 1 y were enrolled in the study. All patients were treated with conventional bicarbonated HD for 5 h through the use of low-flux hollow-fiber dialyzers. Bone densitometry was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in the lumbar spine (LS) and the femoral neck (FN). BMD was classified according to World Health Organization criteria on the basis of BMD T scores. Biochemical bone turnover markers such as calcium, phosphorus, ionized calcium, intact parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase, plasma bicarbonate, blood pH, serum albumin, and hematocrit levels were measured before the HD session in the morning. Male patients (n=37; 52.9%; mean age, 46.2+/-17.0 y) were assigned to a single study group, and female patients (n=33; 47.1%; mean age, 44.0+/-13.1 y) to another. Mean duration of HD treatment was 33.7+/-28.5 mo in females and 33.0+/-26.0 mo in males. Among all patients, BMD T scores in the osteopenia/osteoporosis range were observed at the LS in 58 patients (82.8%) and at the FN in 45 patients (64.3%). According to BMD measurements in FN T score, 10% of patients (n=7) were osteoporotic, 54.3% (n=38), osteopenic, and 35.7% (n=25), normal. On the other hand, in LS T score, the results were 47.1% (n=33) osteoporotic, 35.7% (n=25), osteopenic, and 17.1% (n=12), normal. No statistically significant association was found in osteopenia/osteoporosis between sexes according to FN and LS T score (P=.542, P=.267, respectively). No significant relationship was noted between BMD and biochemical markers of bone turnover. A positive correlation was found between FN T scores of BMD and age (r=.413, P=.000). BMD T scores within the range of scores for osteopenia/osteoporosis were observed in 78.5% of patients at the LS and in 58.5% of patients at the FN. The investigators concluded that no correlation could be found between markers of bone turnover and bone mass measurements in both skeletal regions. LS T score results were worse than FN T score results. Elevated alkaline phosphastase levels combined with high intact parathyroid hormone levels are predictive of renal osteodystrophy but not of adynamic bone disease/osteoporosis.

Fibromyalgia: its prevalence in haemodialysis patients and its relationships with clinical and laboratory parameters

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to determine the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) in chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients and to identify possible links between FS and various clinical and laboratory parameters.

METHODS

We studied 122 chronic HD patients and 89 healthy age- and sex-matched controls, classified according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for FS. Age, sex, causes of renal failure, length of time on dialysis and marital status were recorded, and questions were asked about symptoms related to FS. All subjects completed the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Laboratory data obtained in the preceding 6 months were re-evaluated.

RESULTS

Nine (7.4%) of the 122 HD patients and four of the 89 control subjects (4.5%) fulfilled the ACR criteria for definite FS (P = 0.56). The mean ages of the subjects who had definite FS and those who did not were similar. Most of the subjects diagnosed with definite FS were female (11 out of 13). The HD patients had higher FIQ scores than the controls, regardless of FS diagnosis. Among the HD patients, those with definite FS had a significantly higher mean FIQ score than all the other HD patients combined. In the all HD patients group, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome and personal histories of depression were correlated with FS, whereas duration of HD, aetiology of renal failure, laboratory parameters and hepatitis B or C virus infection were not.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of FS appeared to be similar in chronic HD patients and the general population; also, FS-related symptoms appear to be similar in HD patients and the general population who have FS. No laboratory parameter was correlated with frequency of FS.