Metabolic investigation in patients with nephrolithiasis

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic disorders associated with nephrolithiasis in a female population. METHODS A retrospective study on 1,737 patients with evidence of recent formation of renal stones, being 54% females. The laboratory investigation consisted of at least two samples of blood and 24-hour urine to assess calcium, uric acid, citrate and creatinine levels, qualitative cystinuria, urinary pH following fasting and 12-hour water restriction, urine culture, serum creatinine and parathyroid hormone. RESULTS The most frequent alterations were hypercalciuria (40.9%), urinary tract infection (23.2%), hypocitraturia (22.4%), low urinary volume (20.5%) and hyperuricosuria (16%). CONCLUSION The most frequent metabolic alterations in females were hypocitraturia, urinary tract infection, low urinary volume and hyperuricosuria.