Objetive:

Our main objective was to evaluate the development of sclerostin levels in patients with liver transplantation, and to investigate their relationship with other bone remodeling markers.

Material and method:

Prospective observational study of 83 patients with liver transplantation. Sclerostin, β-crosslaps, bone alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and C-reactive protein values were determined the week before the transplant and subsequently, at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. The hydroxy-vitamin D and the paratohormone were determined basally. In each revision, the existence of fractures was evaluated. The development of the markers compared to the baseline value was determined by the t-Student test. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

56 men and 27 women (mean age: 56.2±10.4 years). Baseline sclerostin levels (0.76±0.35 ng/ml) decreased significantly early (0.55±0.22 ng/ml in the first month, p=0.034), a trend that remained until 12 months (0.62±0.22 ng/ml, p=0.047). On the contrary, the basal levels of osteocalcin (17±10.3 ng/ml) and β-crosslaps (0.44±0.3 ng/ml) increased significantly throughout the study; in the case of osteocalcin, up to 12 months (37.27±26.84 ng/ml, p<0.01) and β-crosslaps, up to 6 months (0.62±0.34 ng/ml, p<0.01), with a subsequent decrease (0.47±0.31 ng/ml, p=0.2).

Conclusions:

There is a decrease in the levels of sclerostin after liver transplantation, as opposed to the elevation of other markers of remodeling, β-crosslaps and osteocalcin. More studies are needed to determine if these changes have an impact on the occurrence of osteoporosis in patients undergoing transplantation.

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