Cyclosporine and bone mass

P.N. Sambrook, Institute of Bone & Joint Research, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards Sydney, Australia.

ABSTRACT
Calcium homeostasis depends upon the interplay of intestinal calcium absorption, renal excretion, and skeletal mobilisation or uptake of calcium, mediated though bone formation and resorption which are closely ‘coupled’ in the adult skeleton under normal circumstances. Cyclosporine leads to the uncoupling of formation and resorption, with overall high bone turnover resulting. The effect of cyclosporine is due to multiple effects on calcium metabolism and a knowledge of its mechanism of actions is necessary to understand its skeletal effects.

Key words
Cyclosporine, bone density, osteoporosis, fracture.

Please address correspondence and reprint requests to: Philip N. Sambrook, MD, Florence & Cope Professor of Rheumatology, Institute of Bone & Joint Research, University of Sydney, Level 4, Block 4, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards 2065, Sydney, Australia.

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2000; 18 (Suppl. 21): S93-S96.
© Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2000.