Urinary Zinc Excretion in Patients with Urolithiasis

Abstract

Urinary zinc, calcium, creatinine and osmolar excretion per 24 hours was measured in 21 healthy subjects and 49 patients with urolithiasis. Urinary zinc excretion in kidney-stone formers was lower than in healthy subjects, but the difference was not statistically significant. In healthy subjects, there was a normal relationship between urinary zinc excretion and urine volume, creatinine and osmolar excretion, which was not found, with some exceptions, in the groups of patients. There was no relationship between urinary zinc and calcium excretion in healthy subjects or in patients with normocalciuria or hypercalciuria. A possible role of relative hypozincuria in kidney-stone formation in patients with hypercalciuria and/or hyperoxaluria is suggested.

Crystalluria in Normal Subjects and in Stone Formers With and Without Thiazide and Cellulose Phosphate Treatment

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Idiopathic hypercalciuria is the commonest cause of renal calculi in this country (Rose and Harrison, 1974) and also in some overseas countries where studies have been published (Yendt, 1970;Revusova, Zvara and Gratzlova, 1973).Because it is known that the long-term recurrence rate for renal calculi is high (Williams, 1963) it has generally been agreed desirable to lower urinary calcium in those calcium rich stone formers who show hypercalciuria. Apart from simple restriction of the calcium rich foods (milk, cheese and their products) 3 distinct drugtherapies are now available, namelyinorganicphosphates, thiazide diuretics and cellulose phosphate.

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“…Idiopathic hypercalciuria is the commonest cause of renal calculi in this country (Rose and Harrison, 1974) and also in some overseas countries where studies have been published (Yendt, 1970;Revusova, Zvara and Gratzlova, 1973).…”