Calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis: an easy way to detect an imbalance between promoting and inhibiting factors

Glycosaminoglycans in Urolithiasis

“…The present study shows significantly diminished daily excretion and urinary concentration of GAGs in stone-forming patients when they were compared to nor mal subjects. These findings are consistent with data report ed by others [6,8].…”

“…While some authors found a significant decrease in daily GAG output with respect to normal subjects [6,8], others have been unable to establish such difference [9,10]. Lack of standardization of methodology, different patient selection criteria or the therapeutic schedule used probably account for those contradictory findings.…”

Increased Urinary Excretion of Glycosaminoglycans in Pregnancy and in Diabetes mellitus: A Protective Factor against Nephrolithiasis

“…Nevertheless, the incidence of nephrolithiasis during pregnancy and in diabetes mellitus is low, and probably lower than that observed in the population at large [4][5][6], Since the lithogenic processes are the consequence of an imbalance be tween urinary supersaturation, factors promoting and inhibiting crystallization, crystal growth and agglomera tion, it is possible that the lower calculosis incidence in these two situations -despite the existence of evident risk conditions -is due to the presence of an important inhibitory activity in the urine of these subjects. Without doubt, the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are among the substances that contribute highly in inhibiting urinary lithogenesis (7,8], Actually, the urinary GAG excretion in diabetes melli tus and in pregnancy was frankly high compared to controls (table I); in agreement with literature reports, hypercalciuria is also present (table I). Thus the C a/ GAG ratio, which may be taken as a possible marker of the urinary lithogenic imbalance, remains within the nor mal range, unlike findings in hypercalciuric calculous patients.…”

The Excretion of Glycosaminoglycans in the Urine of Calcium-Oxalate-Stone Patients and Healthy Persons

“…Each of these units contains two monosaccharides -one a hexose amine (amino sugar), the other an N-free monosaccharide, mostly glucuronic acid. The 8 types of GAG so far discovered [22] vary according to their monosaccharide components and the nature of their glycosidic bonding (ß [ 1 -4], u [1][2][3][4], ß [1][2][3]). …”