Krause R, Gowin W, Bennhold I, Holick MF, Chen TC
UVB irradiation stops loss of bone mass in hemodialysis
patients
Am Soc Nephrol
J Am Soc Nephrol (abstract)
(Sep) 7:1792 1996
The authors previously demonstrated that treatment with serial UV (B)
irradiation normalizes serum calcitriol levels. The present study was
designed to determine whether UV irradiation prevents bone loss as
measured by bone mineral densitometry. Sixteen hemodialysis patients were
treated with increasing doses of UV irradiation thrice weekly for 6
months. It was reported that 8 had a modest increase in bone mass whereas
the other 8 had a modest decrease. Vitamin D metabolites were in the
normal range for all patients and those that responded had a mild decrease
in PTH as opposed to a mild increase observed in those who didn't respond.
Comment: This abstract was not selected for presentation as it has
many shortcomings. Not an adequate description of patient population,
their therapy and underlying bone disease. Very little data was actually
presented. BMD measurements in dialysis patients are imprecise at best and
multiple studies have shown that bone mass may increase, remain stable or
decrease depending on the patient population and what bone is being
analyzed. It is also unclear if an increase in bone mass is necessarily
good for these patients. Thus, the information provided from this limited
study should not be used as a basis for clinical management.
(Stuart Sprague, M.D., Northwestern University, Chicago, IL)
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Am Soc Nephrol
CRF by problem area :
Bone disease/aluminum