ABSTRACT

The prevalence of osteoporosis and decline in renal function increases with age. Therefore, the coexistence rate of both these conditions rises in the elderly population. Abnormalities in mineral bone metabolism are major complications in chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, in elderly osteoporotic patients without a history of CKD, there are few reports on the relationship between calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and parathyroid hormone (PTH), and renal function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Ca, P, and PTH, and renal function in elderly osteoporosis patients with no history of CKD. We evaluated 169 patients who had been treated for osteoporosis. The eGFR decreased with age resulting in a negative correlation (r = −0.514, p < 0.01). On the other hand, intact PTH increased with age resulting in an equilateral correlation (r = 0.202, p < 0.01). P increased, therefore Ca increased, resulting in an equalitarian correlation (r = 0.309, p < 0.01). In addition, an increase in intact PTH negatively correlated with a decrease in Ca and P (r = −0.403, p < 0.01 and r = −0.416, p < 0.01, respectively). Even if Ca and P are in the normal range, in case of a poor effect of an osteoporotic therapeutic drug, it is necessary to consider the measurement of intact PTH in elderly osteoporosis patients with no history of CKD.

Keywords:

Calcium, Phosphorus, Parathyroid Hormone, Renal Function, Elderly Osteoporotic Patients

1. Introduction

The prevalence of osteoporosis and decline in renal function increases with age. Therefore, the coexistence rate of both these conditions rises in the elderly pop- ulation. A decline in renal function influences bone metabolism, including sec- ondary hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, hypocalcemia, and high phosphorus (P). On the contrary, osteoporosis and osteoporotic therapeutic drugs can affect renal function by inducing injury to the blood vessels by P re- leased from the bone. Furthermore, renal function can decline with the presence of hypercalcemia, calcium (Ca) preparation, and vitamin D preparation.

Abnormalities in mineral bone metabolism are major complications in chronic kidney disease (CKD). For example, it was reported that the risk of hip fracture was high in patients with moderate to severe CKD [1] . In the interna- tional guidelines set by KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcome) [2] , osteoporotic treatment is generally administered in CKD stages 1 - 2. At CKD stages 3 - 5, it is recommended that P and Ca are managed, which mutually affect the parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. However, in elderly osteoporotic patients without a history of CKD, there are few reports on the relationship of Ca, P, and PTH, with renal function.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Ca, P, and PTH, and renal function in elderly osteoporosis patients with no history of CKD.

2. Materials and Methods

We evaluated 169 patients who had been treated for osteoporosis at Yoshinoga- wa Medical Center, from April 2015 to July 2016 (15 men, 154 women; mean age 75.8 years old).We excluded cases previously treated for diabetes, internal secre- tion disease, and CKD. The drugs used were vitamins D 135 example, vitamins K 43 example, bisphosphonate 51 example, and selective estrogen receptor mod- ulators (SERM) 10 example (there was overlap in use).Examination of the blood included measurement of Ca, P, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP; a marker of bone formation), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP5b; a marker of bone resorption), intact PTH, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the levels of the lumbar spine and proximal femur using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Values are shown as mean ± standard error (SE). Correlations between two independent measurements were assessed using the Pearson’s correlation coeffi- cient. Differences were considered statistically significant at p values of <0.05. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21.0 (IBM).

3. Results

The results of the measurements are shown in Table 1. CKD stage 3 - 4 was ob- served in 29.6% of patients (Table 2). The eGFR decreased with age resulting in a negative correlation (r = −0.514, p < 0.01). On the other hand, intact PTH in- creased with age resulting in an equilateral correlation (r = 0.202, p < 0.01).

BAP: bone specific alkaline phosphatase; TRACP-5b: tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b; YAM: Young Adult Mean.

There was no significant correlation of BAP with aging; however, TRACP5b did increase with age resulting in an equilateral correlation (r = 0.226, p < 0.01) (Figure 1). P increased, therefore Ca increased, resulting in an equilateral corre- lation (r = 0.309, p < 0.01). In addition, an increase in intact PTH negatively correlated with a decrease in Ca and P (r = −0.403, p < 0.01 and r = −0.416, p < 0.01, respectively) (Figure 2).

4. Discussion

Ca is supplied to the body via dietary intake and is absorbed in the small intes- tine. The quantity of reabsorption is coordinated with Ca excretion in the kid- ney. With aging, it is well accepted that there is a decline in both the Ca absorp- tion in the intestinal tract and Ca reabsorption in the kidney [3] [4] [5] . We should draw our attention to the value of Ca and renal function in an elderly person with osteoporosis when regarding osteoporotic treatment. When the se- rum Ca levels decreases, it is sensed by a Ca perception receptor located on the surface of the chief cells in the parathyroid gland, and PTH secretion is pro- moted [6] . PTH decreases blood P levels by preventing P reabsorption in the proximal tubules of the kidney. It has been shown that when renal function drops, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) secretion is induced from early stage to prevent hyperphosphatemia [7] . FGF23 is a humoral factor produced by bone that controls calcitriol (1.25(OH)2D) production [8] . Serum Ca and P are main-

tained at in an extremely narrow concentration range throughout such pro- cesses. However, when renal function begins to decline severely, the removal of P to the urine via FGF23 and PTH is limited, and serum P rises [9] [10] .

In our study, most cases presented with Ca, P, and PTH within the normal range, and patients did not present with any clinical manifestations. However, increased PTH did negatively correlate with low Ca and low P. McKane et al. [11] reported that failure of elderly women to increase their Ca intake to compensate for the age-related increases in Ca requirement contributes substan- tially to their development of increased parathyroid activity and increased bone resorption. Chronic increased PTH levels are catabolic for cortical bone [12] . Curtis et al. [13] reported that higher levels of PTH, even within the normal la- boratory plasma reference range, were associated with considerably higher rates of hip BMD loss. This association was observed among patients with both normal and reduced renal function. On the other hand, Campos-Obando et al. [14] reported that serum P positively correlated with fracture risk independent of BMD, and increased P levels, even within normal range, might be deleterious for bone health in the normal population. Therefore, even if Ca and P are within the normal range, in cases where the effect of the osteoporotic therapeutic drug is poor, it is necessary to consider measurement of intact PTH.

There are several limitations to this study. We were unable to consider the influence of each osteoporotic therapeutic drug on mineral bone metabolism [15] [16] [17] . In addition, we did not consider whether the level of intact PTH influences the difference in BMD. Thus, future long-term follow-up studies should be carried out to evaluate these problems.

5. Conclusion

In osteoporotic patients with no history of CKD, an age-related decline in renal function was observed. Furthermore, a relationship was observed between the levels of intact PTH and Ca and P. Even if Ca and P are in the normal range, in case of a poor effect of an osteoporotic therapeutic drug, it is necessary to consider the measurement of intact PTH.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Cite this paper

Yonezu, H., Mikami, H., Oba, K., Miyatake, K., Takai, M. and Nitta, A. (2017) The Relationship of Serum Calcium, Phosphorus, and Parathy- roid Hormone with Renal Function in El- derly Osteoporotic Patients with No History of Chronic Kidney Disease. Advances in Aging Research, 6, 55-60. https://doi.org/10.4236/aar.2017.64006

References