Impaired Bone Geometry After Heart and Heart-Lung Transplantation in Childhood

Maxillary and Mandibular Healing After Facial Allotransplantation

INTRODUCTION

Facial transplantation has emerged as a viable option in treating devastating facial injuries.Despite the high healing rate of Le Fort III and bilateral sagittal split osteotomies (BSSO) in nontransplant patients, few studies have reported assessment of maxillary and mandibular healing in face transplant patients compared with nontransplant patients. The aim of this study was to examine differences in bone healing in our patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted of facial allotransplantation patients at the Cleveland Clinic from December 2008 to inception. Demographics such as age, date of birth, and sex were recorded. Additional variables included procedures, revisions, reoperations, medications, and bone stability and healing. Computed tomography (CT) images assessed the alignment of skeletal components, bony union quality, and stability of fixation.

RESULTS

Three patients were included: 2 had Le Fort III segment transplantation, and 1 had transplantation of both a Le Fort III segment and mandibular BSSO. The Le Fort III segment in all patients exhibited mobility and fibrous union at the Le Fort III osteotomy on CT. In contrast, the BSSO healed uneventfully after transplantation and revision surgery, with bony union confirmed by both CT and histology of the fixation area between the donor and recipient mandible bilaterally. No patients with midfacial fibrous union required revision of the nonunion as they were clinically asymptomatic.

CONCLUSION

Le Fort osteotomy demonstrates inferior healing in facial transplantation compared with the nontransplant population. In contrast, the successful healing in the mandible is likely owing to the high density of rich cancellous bone.

Bone mineral density in pediatric heart transplanted patients: A retrospective single-center study at Skåne University Hospital in Lund 1988-2016

BACKGROUND

Impaired bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis are commonly found in patients who have undergone heart transplantation (HT), which increases the risk for bone fractures which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in adults. However, the long-term evolution of BMD after HT in pediatric patients has not been thoroughly investigated.

METHOD

Bone mineral density up to 10 years after HT was investigated in 30 patients who underwent HT at an age <20 years at Skåne University Hospital in Lund 1988-2016.

RESULTS

The total observed time was 235 person-years. Before HT, 86% had low BMD for chronologic age in the lumbar spine. In lumbar spine, BMD was significantly lower than normal for chronological age before HT (p = .034), but recovered at the 4th year (p = .009). In whole body, BMD was normal at the 4th annual check-up (p = .030) and remained so throughout the follow-up period. The median T score in the lumbar spine and femoral neck 10 years after HT did not differ between the two groups based on age at HT (<20 years vs 20 years or older; p = .779 in the lumbar spine and p = .388 in the femoral neck).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who undergo HT at an age of <20 years have low BMD for chronological age already before HT, but BMD may recover completely within the first 4 years after HT. The results indicate no difference in BMD at 10 years after HT between pediatric and adult patients.

Effect of neridronate in osteopenic patients after heart, liver or lung transplant: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND

Transplantation (Tx) is an effective therapeutic option in patients with end-stage organ failure and osteoporosis and related fractures are a recognized complication in these patients. Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of neridronate in patients with reduced bone mass after Tx of the heart, liver or lung.

METHODS

In this multicenter randomized double-blind controlled trial (RCT), 22 patients were treated with neridronate (25 mg i.m./month) and 17 received placebo. All patients received daily oral calcium (500 mg) and vitamin D (400 IU). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was evaluated at 0, 6 and 12 months and markers of bone turnover at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients (11 heart Tx, 21 liver Tx, 7 lung Tx), aged 49.3±9.1 years, with a T-score <-2.0 SD at lumbar spine or femoral level were included. In neridronate-treated patients, a significant increase in lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) was observed after 12 months vs. placebo control (0.92±0.13 g/cm² vs. 0.84±0.08 g/cm²; P=0.005). Femur and hip BMD remained unchanged between groups. Total alkaline phosphatase, bone alkaline phosphatase and beta-cross-laps significantly decreased over the 12 months in neridronate-treated patients vs. placebo, respectively (107.4±74 U/L vs. 157.6±107.1 U/L, P=0.002; 5.7±3.3 µg/L vs. 11.7±4.3 µg/L, P<0.001 and 0.25±0.13 ng/mL vs. 0.73±0.57 ng/mL, P<0.001). No difference was observed between neridronate and placebo groups regarding safety profile.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first RCT that demonstrates the efficacy of neridronate in increasing bone density and reducing bone turnover in organ Tx recipients with significant skeletal morbidity.

Osteoporosis in Children with Chronic Illnesses: Diagnosis, Monitoring, and Treatment

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Osteoporosis is an under-recognized complication of chronic illness in childhood. This review will summarize recent literature addressing the risk factors, evaluation, and treatment for early bone fragility.

RECENT FINDINGS

Criteria for the diagnosis of pediatric osteoporosis include the presence of low trauma vertebral fractures alone or the combination of low bone mineral density and several long bone fractures. Monitoring for bone health may include screening for vertebral fractures that are common but often asymptomatic. Pharmacologic agents should be offered to those with fragility fractures especially when spontaneous recovery is unlikely. Controversies persist about the optimal bisphosphonate agent, dose, and duration. Newer osteoporosis drugs have not yet been adequately tested in pediatrics, though clinical trials are underway. The prevalence of osteoporosis is increased in children with chronic illness. To reduce the frequency of fragility fractures requires increased attention to risk factors, early intervention, and additional research to optimize therapy and potentially prevent their occurrence.

Deficits in bone density and structure in children and young adults following Fontan palliation

BACKGROUND

Survival of patients with congenital heart disease has improved such that there are now more adults than children living with these conditions. Complex single ventricle congenital heart disease requiring Fontan palliation is associated with multiple risk factors for impaired bone accrual. Bone density and structure have not been characterized in these patients.

METHODS

Tibia peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) was used to assess trabecular and cortical volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), cortical dimensions, and calf muscle area in 43 Fontan participants (5-33 years old), a median of 10 years following Fontan palliation. pQCT outcomes were converted to sex- and race-specific Z-scores relative to age based on >700 healthy reference participants. Cortical dimensions and muscle area were further adjusted for tibia length.

RESULTS

Height Z-scores were lower in Fontan compared to reference participants (mean ± SD: -0.29 ± 1.00 vs. 0.25 ± 0.93, p < 0.001); BMI Z-scores were similar (0.16 ± 0.88 vs. 0.35 ± 1.02, p = 0.1). Fontan participants had lower trabecular vBMD Z-scores (-0.85 ± 0.96 vs. 0.01 ± 1.02, p < 0.001); cortical vBMD Z-scores were similar (-0.17 ± 0.98 vs. 0.00 ± 1.00, p = 0.27). Cortical dimensions were reduced with lower cortical area (-0.59 ± 0.84 vs. 0.00 ± 0.88, p<0.001) and periosteal circumference (-0.50 ± 0.82 vs. 0.00 ± 0.84, p < 0.001) Z-scores, compared to reference participants. Calf muscle area Z-scores were lower in the Fontan participants (-0.45 ± 0.98 vs. 0.00 ± 0.96, p = 0.003) and lower calf muscle area Z-scores were associated with smaller periosteal circumference Z-scores (R = 0.62, p < 0.001). Musculoskeletal deficits were not associated with age, Fontan characteristics, parathyroid hormone or vitamin D levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Children and young adults demonstrate low trabecular vBMD, cortical structure and muscle area following Fontan. Muscle deficits were associated with smaller periosteal dimensions. Future studies should determine the fracture implications of these deficits and identify interventions to promote musculoskeletal development.

Mechanism and Treatment Strategy of Osteoporosis after Transplantation

Osteoporosis (OP) has emerged as a frequent and devastating complication of organ solid transplantation process. Bone loss after organ transplant is related to adverse effects of immunosuppressants on bone remodeling and bone quality. Many factors contribute to the pathogenesis of OP in transplanted patients. Many mechanisms of OP have been deeply approached. Drugs for OP can be generally divided into "bone resorption inhibitors" and "bone formation accelerators," the former hindering bone resorption by osteoclasts and the latter increasing bone formation by osteoblasts. Currently, bisphosphonates, which are bone resorption inhibitors drugs, are more commonly used clinically than others. Using the signaling pathway or implantation bone marrow stem cell provides a novel direction for the treatment of OP, especially OP after transplantation. This review addresses the mechanism of OP and its correlation with organ transplantation, lists prevention and management of bone loss in the transplant recipient, and discusses the recipients of different age and gender.

Quantitative computer tomography in children and adolescents: the 2013 ISCD Pediatric Official Positions

In 2007, International Society of Clinical Densitometry Pediatric Positions Task Forces reviewed the evidence for the clinical application of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) in children and adolescents. At that time, numerous limitations regarding the clinical application of pQCT were identified, although its use as a research modality for investigation of bone strength was highlighted. The present report provides an updated review of evidence for the clinical application of pQCT, as well as additional reviews of whole body QCT scans of the central and peripheral skeletons, and high-resolution pQCT in children. Although these techniques remain in the domain of research, this report summarizes the recent literature and evidence of the clinical applicability and offers general recommendations regarding the use of these modalities in pediatric bone health assessment.

Effects of cyclosporin-a on rat skeletal biomechanical properties

Background

Cyclosprin A (CsA) has been widely used clinically to treat the patients who have undergone organ transplantation or acquired autoimmune disease. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of three different doses of CsA (1.5, 7.5, 15 mg/kg body weight) on the skeletal biomechanical proprieties at different anatomic sites in rats.

Methods

Fifty-six male 3-month-old Wistar rats were divided into five groups. Eight rats were randomly chosen as the basal group, while the others were randomly distributed into four groups of 12 animals each. One group was used as controls and received daily subcutaneous injection of 1 ml of saline solution; another three experimental groups were injected subcutaneously with CsA in a daily dose of 1.5, 7.5, and 15 mg/kg body weight respectively for 60 days. The bone biomechanical proprieties, the bone mineral density, as well as the trabecular bone architecture were measured at different anatomic sites, i.e. the lumbar vertebra, the middle femur shaft, and the proximal femur.

Results

CsA therapy at 7.5 and 1.5 mg/kg can significantly reduce the ultimate force, the ultimate stress and the energy absorption per unit of bone volume of the lumbar vertebra, with no effect on the middle femur. CsA therapy at 7.5 mg/kg can significantly reduce the ultimate force, the ultimate stress and the Young's modulus of the femoral neck, but not CsA at 1.5 mg/kg. Furthermore, CsA therapy at 7.5 and 1.5 mg/kg can significantly reduce the bone mineral density of the lumber vertebra and the proximal femur, but have no effect on the middle femur. CsA therapy at 7.5 and 1.5 mg/kg can also significantly reduce the bone volume fraction of the proximal tibia and the lumber vertebra, but has no effect on the cortical thickness of the middle femoral shaft. In the 15 mg/kg CsA group only one rat survived, and the kidney and liver histology of the survived rat showed extensive tissue necrosis.

Conclusion

Long-term use of CsA can weaken the biomechanical properties and thus increase the fracture rate of the lumbar vertebra and the proximal femur. However, CsA therapy has less effect on the middle femur shaft. The effects of CsA on skeleton are site-specific.