Abstract
For the purpose of establishing a supplementary diagnosis of renal osteodystrophy and evaluating its pathology, we conducted regular height measurements over a two year period on 43 maintenance dialysis patients, and comparatively investigated changes in height and various laboratory data.
Height was measured every 3 months, and differences in height measured from January, 1988 through January, 1990 were assessed in this study. Height changes were comparatively studied in terms of age, dialysis history, and such clinical test results as serum Ca, P, ALP, C-PTH, AI, BMG, and CT (calcitonin), etc.
Bone salts (∑GS/D) were measured by the digital image processing method, and compared with changes in height. We also studied the relationship between vitamin D3 dosage and changes in height.
There was a positive correlation between reduced body height and duration of dialysis, specifically, r=0.307. The serum Ca level also correlated positively with dialysis duration (r=0.345). Reduced body height and serum ALP showed a positive correlation, r=0.670, and p<0.01, as was the case with the serum C-PTH level, the positive correlation of which had an r=0.701, with p<0.01.
A negative correlation was observed between ∑GS/D and height reduction, serum ALP, and the C-PTH level.
No correlation was observed between vitamin D3 dosage and height reduction.
In 4 out of 5 patients whose height decreased by 2cm or more during the 2 year period, abnormally high serum C-PTH levels were observed.
