Hypercalciuria is well recognized as an important factor in the cause of idiopathic calcium stone disease. Identification of the exact mechanism for the renal tubular handling of calcium has proved elusive, hence, treatment methods to alter the concentration of urine calcium in hypercalciuric stone formers have hitherto been non-specific. It is now well established that renal prostaglandins influence intrarenal hemodynamics and tubular electrolyte excretion. As the renal handling of sodium and calcium is intimately related, the possibility that the mechanism underlying hypercalciuria may be prostaglandin mediated was considered. Experiments were performed in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 10) to determine the changes in calcium excretion following prostaglandin synthetase inhibition with indomethacin. Calcium excretion was significantly reduced (p less than 0.01), compared with control animals (n = 10). Further experiments were performed in anesthetized monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) to see if the inhibitory effect of indomethacin was reversible. Exogenous prostaglandin (PGE2) infusion resulted in a marked calciuretic response without producing changes in glomerular filtration rate or blood pressure. Forty-three hypercalciuric patients were treated with a prostaglandin inhibitor for periods ranging from 2 to 4 weeks, and all showed a significant fall in urinary calcium excretion to within the normal range. This clinical and experimental study suggests that prostaglandin (PGE2) is a hormone which determines the renal handling of calcium by influencing renal tubular function.

Spatial reproducibility in ROI drawing does not necessarily relate directly to the associated quantitative reproducibility.

In a clinical study of 275 idiopathic stone formers the GFR was significantly raised in hypercalciuric patients compared with normal controls P less than 0.001). The possibility that the mechanism underlying hypercalciuria and raised GFR may be prostaglandin-mediated was considered because it is now well established that prostaglandins regulate intra-renal haemodynamics and influence tubular electrolyte excretion. Experiments were performed in conscious Sprague Dawley rats to determine the changes in calcium and sodium excretion following prostaglandin synthetase inhibition with indomethacin. Both calcium and sodium excretion together with urine flow were significantly reduced (P less than 0.002). Further experiments were performed in anaesthetised monkeys (Macacca fascicularis) to see if the inhibitory effect of indomethacin was reversible. Exogenous prostaglandin (PGE2) infusion resulted in a marked calciuretic response without producing changes in GFR or blood pressure. Selected hypercalciuric patients were treated with indomethacin, which resulted in a significant fall in urinary calcium excretion (P less than 0.001). This clinical and experimental study suggests that PGE2 is the hormone which determines the renal handling of calcium by controlling renal tubular function.

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