Abstract
Background and Aims
Children on dialysis have a high burden of bone related comorbidities and fractures. We report a post-hoc analysis of the HDF-Hearts-Height study to determine the prevalence and risk factors for mineral bone disease in children on hemodiafiltration (HDF) and conventional hemodialysis (HD).
Method
144 children were included in baseline cross-sectional analysis, of which 103 (61 HD, 42 HDF) completed 12-month follow-up. Biomarkers of bone formation and resorption, inflammatory markers, fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) and klotho were measured.
Results
Inflammatory markers interleukin-6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor-alfa [TNF-α], and high-sensitivity CRP [hsCRP] were lower in the HDF compared to HD cohorts at baseline and 12 months (p<0.001). Concentrations of bone formation (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, BAP) and resorption (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b [TRAP5b]) markers were comparable between cohorts at baseline, but after 12-months the BAP/TRAP5b ratio increased in HDF (p=0.004) and was unchanged in HD (p=0.44). On adjusted analysis the BAP/TRAP5b ratio was 2.66-fold lower (95%CI -3.91, -1.41; p<0.0001) in HD compared to HDF. FGF23 was comparable between groups at baseline (p=0.52) but increased in HD (p<0.0001) and remained static in HDF (p=0.34) at 12-months. Klotho levels were similar between groups and unchanged during follow-up. The FGF23/klotho ratio was 3.86-fold higher (95% CI 2.15, 6.93; p<0.0001) in HD compared to HDF.
Conclusion
We conclude that children on HDF have increased bone turnover, an attenuated inflammatory profile and lower FGF23/klotho ratios compared to those on HD. Long-term studies are required to determine the effect, if any, of an improved bone biomarker profile on fracture risk and growth.
Hemodiafiltration is associated with reduced inflammation and increased bone formation compared to conventional hemodialysis in children - the HDF, Heart and Height (3H) study
