Musculoskeletal affections among kidney recipients: prevalence and risk predictors

The population of kidney recipients (KR) is steadily increasing in Mansoura and more than 1,800 operations were completed. The extent of musculoskeletal affections (MSA) in this population is not fully known. The purpose of this study is to determine MSA in this KR population and find possible risk predictors. Randomly selected KR (n = 117) were subjected to joint examination, joint pain and morbidity measurements and bone mineral density (BMD) estimation. Laboratory measurements included biochemical, haematological and serological variables. The majority of KR (81.2%) were complaining/suffering from MSA. These included bone loss (n = 78), joint pain (n = 63), skeletal muscle affection (n = 21), soft tissue affection (n = 25), and leg bone pain syndrome (n = 7). Serum creatinine and hepatitis PCR serology demonstrated a significant difference (P < 0.05) between KR with MSA and KR without MSA. Negative hepatitis PCR serology was the only significant (P < 0.05) risk predictor for MSA in this population of KR. This study identified MSA in this steadily increasing KR population. That hepatitis infection was a negative risk predictor for MSA in this KR population warrants further studies.