Retrospective review of bone mineral metabolism management in end-stage renal disease patients wait-listed for renal transplant

Correspondence: Deborah Zimmerman Home Hemodialysis, Ottawa Hospital, Riverside Campus, 1967 Riverside Dr, Ottawa, ON K0A 2Z0, Canada Tel +1 613 738 8400 ext 82534 Fax +1 613 738 8337 Email dzimmerman@ottawahospital.on.ca Background: In patients with end-stage renal disease, use of vitamin D and calcium-based phosphate binders have been associated with progression of vascular calcification that might have an impact on renal transplant candidacy. Our objective was to examine management of mineral metabolism in patients wait-listed for renal transplant and to determine the impact on cardiac perfusion imaging. Methods: Data was collected retrospectively on patients wait-listed for a renal transplant (n = 105), being either active (n = 73) or on hold (n = 32). Demographic data, medications, serum concentrations of calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone, and cardiac perfusion imaging studies were collected from the electronic health record. Chi-square and Student’s t-tests were used to compare active and on-hold patients as appropriate. Logistic regression was used to examine variables associated with worsening cardiac imaging studies. Results: The wait-listed patients were of mean age 56 ± 14 years and had been on dialysis for 1329 ± 867 days. On-hold patients had received a significantly greater total dose of calcium (2.35 ± .94 kg versus 1.49 ± 1.52 kg; P = 0.02) and were more likely to have developed worsening cardiovascular imaging studies (P = 0.03). Total doses of calcium and calcitriol were associated with worsening cardiovascular imaging studies (P = 0.05). Conclusion: Patients on hold on the renal transplant waiting list received higher total doses of calcium. A higher total dose of calcium and calcitriol was also associated with worsening cardiovascular imaging. Time on dialysis before transplant has been associated with worse post-transplant outcomes, and it is possible that the total calcium and calcitriol dose received contributed to these inferior outcomes.