Association between low bone mass and the serum RANKL and OPG in patients with nephrolithiasis

• Main Authors: Asieh Mansour, Maryam Aboeerad, Mostafa Qorbani, Amir Pejman Hashemi Taheri, Mohamad Pajouhi, Abbas Ali Keshtkar, Bagher Larijani, Mohammad Reza Mohajeri-Tehrani, Mohammad Reza Ganji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2018-07-01
• Series: BMC Nephrology
• Subjects: Low bone mass; Osteopenia; Osteoporosis; BMD; OPG; RANKL
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12882-018-0960-z

Abstract Background Nephrolithiasis is a risk factor for Osteopenia and osteoporosis. Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) regulate bone remodeling and osteoclastogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the relation between serum OPG, RANKL concentration, and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with kidney stone disease. Methods Forty-four nephrolithiasis patients with either low bone mass or normal BMD (considered control group) were enrolled in this study. BMD was measured at lumbar spine (L1-L4) and femoral neck by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The serum OPG and RANKL were determined using the ELISA method. Results The median levels of serum OPG were significantly higher in nephrolithiasis patients with low bone mass compared to the nephrolithiasis patients with normal BMD (3.9 pmol/l versus 3.1 pmol/l; P = 0.03), respectively. Negative correlation was detected between bone densities of femoral neck and OPG in patients with nephrolithiasis (r = −.0344, P = 0.02). Conclusion The present study showed that high serum fasting OPG levels may be indicative of femoral neck BMD in patients with nephrolithiasis.