[Renal osteodystrophy in patients on maintenance hemodialysis: statistical study of clinical, radiological and biochemical features].

Sixty radiological, clinical and biochemical features were simultaneously recorded in a population of 46 patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Radiological signs of bone reabsorption (hands, acromio-clavicular and sacro-iliac joints) were demonstrated in 65% and were quantified as a radiological index of hyperparathyroidism. The index was correlated with the levels of parathormone and of alkaline phosphatase (p less than 0.01) and with the duration of renal failure (p less than 0.01), and inversely related to bone densitometry (p less than 0.05). Discriminant analysis confirmed the redundant value of parathormone and alkaline phosphatases in predicting bone lesions. Factorial analysis showed the existence of 12 classes of patients statistically close to one another. These results demonstrate the heterogeneity of renal osteodystrophy.