Bone mineral metabolism in children with biliary atresia after living related liver transplantation. Evaluation of selected parameters.

BACKGROUND:Aim of the study was to analyze the effect of living related liver transplantation on selected parameters of bone formation and resorption in children with liver cirrhosis caused by biliary atresia. MATERIAL/METHODS:20 children (13F/7M) with biliary atresia aged from 6 month to 2.4 years were enrolled into the study 4-9 days before liver transplantation. Osteocalcin, procollagen 1 aminoterminal propeptide, collagen type 1 crosslinked C-telopeptide, parathyroid hormone and metabolites of vitamin D: 25(OH)D3, 1,25(OH)2D3 were measured before, 3, 6 and 12 months after liver transplantation. RESULTS:Three months after living related liver transplantation statistically significant increase of osteocalcin, collagen type 1 crosslinked C-telopeptide, parathyroid hormone and 1,25(OH)2D3 levels were found. We didn't observe further increase of these parameters during the next 9 months after liver transplantation. There was no difference in 25(OH)D3 levels in patients before and after liver transplantation. CONCLUSIONS:In children after successful living related liver transplantation we observed improvement of selected parameters of bone formation and resorption which indicate stimulation of growing processes and mechanisms of bone geometry modelling.