Inverse association of serum long-acting natriuretic peptide and bone mineral density in renal transplant recipients

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and fasting serum long-acting natriuretic peptide (LANP) concentration in renal transplant recipients. Patients and methods: Fasting blood samples were obtained from 65 renal transplant recipients. BMD was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in lumbar vertebrae (L2-L4). Serum LANP levels were measured using a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit. Results: Six patients (9.2%) had osteoporosis and 28 patients (43.1%) had osteopenia in renal transplant recipients. Increased serum LANP (p<0.001) was significantly correlated with low lumbar T-score cut-off points between groups (normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis) in renal transplant recipients. Female patients had lower lumbar BMD than male renal transplant recipients (p=0.027). Univariate linear regression analysis indicated that lumbar BMD were positively correlated with height (p=0.038), body weight (p=0.003), and body mass index (BMI; p=0.019), whereas negatively correlated with LANP (p=0.004) among the renal transplant recipients. Multivariate forward stepwise linear regression analysis of the significant variables revealed that body weight (R ² change=0.132; p=0.006) and LANP (R ² change=0.093; p=0.008) were the independent predictors of lumbar BMD values in the renal transplant recipients. Conclusion: Serum LANP concentration correlates negatively with lumbar BMD values in renal transplant recipients.