Is 3-Compartment Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Useful to Assess Body Composition in Renal Transplant Patients?

• Published in: Journal of renal nutrition Vol. 23; no. 5; pp. 363 - 366
• Main Authors: Pellé, Gaëlle, MD, Branche, Isabelle, MD, Kossari, Niloufar, MD, Tricot, Leila, MD, Delahousse, Michel, MD, Dreyfus, Jean-François, MD, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-09-2013
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adult; Aged; Body Composition; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Electric Impedance; Female; Humans; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Nephrology; Nutritional Status; Regression Analysis; Spectrum Analysis - methods; Water-Electrolyte Imbalance
• ISSN: 1051-2276; 1532-8503
• DOI: 10.1053/j.jrn.2013.01.032

Background Metabolic disorders, in particular weight gain, increase cardiovascular mortality risk and can cause serious problems after renal transplantation. Weight and body mass index are imprecise indicators of nutritional status. Accurate determination of the body composition of renal transplant patients is essential; therefore, a simple tool that allows appropriate patient monitoring is crucial. Design A new device, the Body Composition Monitor (BCM, Fresenius Medical Care, Bad Homburg, Germany), expresses body weight in terms of adipose tissue, lean tissue mass, and excess fluid. We compared the performance of this 3-compartment model with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) as a reference method in determining body composition in a renal transplant population. Subjects Thirty-three clinically stable renal transplant patients were studied. Bland-Altman plots and Passing-Bablok regression were used to compare methods. Results Mean lean mass was 51.8 ± 12.3 kg with DEXA and 39.0 ± 9.9 kg with BCM. Despite the Passing-Bablok regression failing to find significant differences, the predictive value of BCM for DEXA was poor. Mean fat mass was 19.4 ± 9.7 kg with DEXA and 30.0 ± 16.0 kg with BCM. The slope of the regression line of BCM over DEXA significantly differed from 1. Conclusion We conclude that, in this population, these methods cannot be substituted for one another.