The effect of urinary tract calculosis to levels of low molecular inhibitors of crystallization in the urine

Abstract

The incidence of urinary tract calculosis continuously progresses. The triggering event in the process of stone formation is decreased urinary level of crystallizing inhibitors. The aim of our study was to investigate whether the existing stone or applied therapeutic procedure - extracorporeal shock waves lithotripsy (ESWL) - has effect to urinary levels of Mg, citrate and pyrophosphate. Study included 128 patients with the upper urinary tract stones. ESWL using the Lithostar (Siemens) device was used as a mode of treatment. Out of all patients, 76 (59%) were free of stone particles before 1 month, while 52 (41%) had residual stone fragments even 3 months after ESWL. Mg, citrate and pyrophosphate were measured in 24hurine specimens: before, between days 2 and 3, as well as 1 and 3 months after ESWL. The analysis of the results revealed that stone itself had no effect on urinary crystallizing inhibitors. Detected increased urinary levels of Mg, citrate and pyrophosphate after ESWL, compared with pre-treatment values, could be attributed to applied therapeutic procedure.