A study by German researchers found that bone fractures following transplantation are a major complication for one-third of all organ transplant recipients, and suggested that post-transplant therapy for transplant recipients should include treatment to prevent osteoporosis.

The study by researchers befrom the University of Heidelberg of 105 heart transplant recipients and 130 liver transplant recipients, published in the journal Lancet, found that 21 percent of the heart patients and 14 perent of the liver patients had at least one vertebral fracture in the first year after transplantation.

The number increased to 27 percent of heart patients and 21 percent of liver patients in the second year, and in the third and fourth years, one third of patients from both groups had one or more vertebral fractures, the researchers added.

The researchers said they did not identify a link between risk of fractures and dose of immunosuppressive medications, and said lack of identification of clear risk factors for osteoporotic fractures suggested that future post-transplantation treatment should aim to prevent osteoporosis.

Other sources: Lancet