Metabolic risk factors in children with kidney stone disease: an update.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of kidney stones in children has significantly increased in the past few decades, with concomitant increased morbidity and healthcare costs worldwide. Assessing metabolic risk factors is essential for diagnosis and specific treatment. The objective of this retrospective study is to identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children under 17 years of age, as well as the metabolic risk factors of nephrolithiasis. METHODS: A total of 300 children with kidney stone disease were included to undergo several clinical tests using a standardized protocol. RESULTS: The mean age was 11.2 years, and the male:female ratio was 1.15:1.0. Biochemical abnormalities were found in 89.3% of all cases. A single urine metabolic risk factor was present in 52.6% (n = 141) of the patients, and multiple risk factors were present in 36.7% (n = 106). Idiopathic hypercalciuria (alone or in combination) and hypocitraturia (alone or in combination) were the most frequent risk factors identified in 47.0% and 39.6% of these patients, respectively. Renal colic and/or unspecified abdominal pain were the most frequent forms of presentation (76.9%), followed by hematuria in 64.4% with 97.5% of stones located in the upper urinary tract. A positive family history in first-degree and second-degree relatives was found in 64.8% of boys and 61.8% of girls. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that specific urinary metabolic risk factors can be found in most children with kidney stones, with hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia being the most common diagnoses. Graphical abstract .

[Calcium response to vitamin D supplementation]. / Respuesta de la calciuria a suplementos de vitamina D.

Several studies show the importance of serum vitamin D sufficient levels to prevent multiple chronic diseases. However, vitamin D supplementation and its effects on urine calcium excretion remain controversial. The objective of this prospective and interventional study was to evaluate urine calcium excretion in women with normal calciuria or hypercalciuria, once serum vitamin D sufficiency was achieved. We studied 63 women with idiopathic hypercalciuria, (9 with renal lithiasis) and 50 normocalciuric women. Both groups had serum vitamin D levels low (deficiency or insufficiency). Baseline urine calcium excretion was measured before being supplemented with vitamin D2 or D3 weekly or vitamin D3 100.000 IU monthly. Once serum vitamin D levels were corrected achieving at least 30 ng/ml, a second urine calcium excretion was obtained. Although in the whole sample we did not observe significant changes in urine calcium excretion according to the way of supplementation, some of those with weekly supplementation had significant higher urine calcium excretion, 19% (n = 12) of hypercalciuric women and 12% (n = 6) of the normocalciuric group. Monthly doses, also showed higher urine calcium excretion in 40% of hypercalciuric women (n = 4/10) and in 44% (n = 4/9) of the renal lithiasis hypercalciuric patients. In conclusion, different ways of vitamin D supplementation and adequate serum levels are safe in most patients, although it should be taken into account a subgroup, mainly with monthly loading doses, that could increase the calciuria significantly eventually rising renal lithiasis risk or bone mass loss, if genetically predisposed.

Kidney stones: Composition, frequency and relation to metabolic diagnosis.

Nephrolithiasis is one of the most frequent urologic diseases. The aim of this paper is to study the composition and frequency of 8854 patient kidney stones and in a subset of them their metabolic risk factors to be related to their type of calculi. Physicochemical and crystallographic methods were used to assess kidney stone composition. In a subset of 715 patients, we performed an ambulatory metabolic protocol with diagnostic purposes. From the total sample 79% of stones were made of calcium salts (oxalate and phosphate), followed by uric acid stones in 16.5%, calcium salts and uric acid in 2%, other salts in 1.9% and cystine in 0.6%. Male to female ratio was almost three times higher in calcium salts and other types of stones, reaching a marked male predominance in uric acid stones, M/F 18.8 /1.0. The major risk factors for calcium stones are idiopathic hypercalciuria, followed by unduly acidic urine pH and hyperuricosuria. In uric acid stones unduly acidic urine pH and less commonly hyperuricosuria are the most frequent biochemical diagnosis. Our results show that analysis of kidney stones composition and the corresponding metabolic diagnosis may provide a scientific basis for the best management and prevention of kidney stone formation, as well as it may help us to study the mechanisms of urine stone formation.

[Citrate and renal stones]. / Citrato y litiasis renal.

Citrate is a powerful inhibitor of the crystallization of calcium salts. Hypocitraturia is a biochemical common alteration in calcium stone formation in adults and especially in children. The acid pH (systemic, tubular and intracellular) is the main determinant of citrate excretion in the urine. While the etiology of hypocitraturia is idiopathic in most patients with kidney stones, there are a number of causes for this abnormality including distal renal tubular acidosis, hypokalemia, diets rich in animal protein and / or diets low in alkali and certain drugs, such as acetazolamide, topiramate, ACE inhibitors and thiazides. Dietary modifications that benefit these patients include high intake of fluids and fruits, especially citrus, sodium and protein restriction, with normal calcium intake. Treatment with potassium citrate is effective in patients with primary or secondary hypocitraturia and acidification disorders, which cause unduly acidic urine pH persistently. Adverse effects are low and are referred to the gastrointestinal tract. While there are various preparations of citrate (potassium citrate, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, magnesium) in our country is available only potassium citrate powder that is useful to correct both the hypocitraturia and the low urinary pH and reduce markedly the recurrence of kidney stones.

[Diet in the treatment of renal lithiasis. Pathophysiological basis]. / La dieta en el tratamiento de la litiasis renal. Bases fisiopatológicas.

The composition of urine is influenced by diet and changes in dietary factors have been proposed to modify the risk of recurrent nephrolithiasis. Nutrients that have been implicated include calcium, oxalate, sodium, animal protein, magnesium and potassium. There is significant evidence showing that a high calcium diet is associated with a reduction of lithogenic risk. One of the possible mechanisms to explain this apparent paradox is that the higher intake of calcium in the intestine binds with dietary oxalate, reducing its absorption and urinary excretion. Oxalate from the diet seems to provide only a small contribution to excretion and dietary restriction is appropriate only in those with hyperoxaluria and hyperabsorption. Observational studies have shown a positive and independent association between sodium intake and the formation of new kidney stones. Consumption of animal protein creates an acid load that increases urinary excretion of calcium and uric acid and reduced citrate, all factors that could participate in the genesis of stones. Potassium-rich foods increase urinary citrate because of its alkali content. In prospective observational studies, diets rich in magnesium were associated with a lower risk of kidney stone formation in men. In conclusion, diet is a key element in the management of the patient with kidney stones but always subordinated to present metabolic risk factors.

[Renal lithiasis. Biochemical changes in the follow-up]. / Litiasis renal. Modificaciones bioquímicas durante el seguimiento.

With the aim of assessing if biochemical changes occur in the follow up of patients with renal lithiasis, 237 patients were studied (115 women and 122 men, mean age 39 +/- 8 and 42 +/- 7 years, respectively) and controlled during 27.3 +/- 19.3 months. All of them had previously undergone metabolic evaluations at baseline and one or more than one control studies afterwards. Patients with a diagnosis of sponge kidney, renal tubular acidosis, primary hyperparathyroidism, anatomical malformations of the urinary tract, or urinary infections were not included. Two populations were identified: those who presented changes in the baseline diagnosis (139 patients, Group I) and those who presented no changes (98 patients, Group II). In these groups, no differences were observed in baseline metabolic diagnoses or in the follow-up period. Hypocitraturia was the additional diagnosis most frequently observed (43.1%), followed by Idiopatic hypercalciuria (20.8%) and abnormalities of uric acid (16.5%). In the group of 110 patients followed up for more than 3 years, 37 patients recurred (33%). Among the latter, 25 (23%) changed the baseline metabolic diagnosis vs. 12 (11%) that maintained the same diagnosis (p < 0.002). Changes in metabolic disorders were frequently observed in the follow up of patients with nephrolithiasis. These changes are not necessarily associated with the diet indicated or drug treatment. Hypocitraturia was the additional metabolic disorder most frequently found. In general, there is a higher recurrence rate in those patients who present changes in their biochemical parameters and undergo no treatment.

Respuesta de la calciuria a suplementos de vitamina D / Calcium response to vitamin D supplementation

Múltiples estudios muestran la importancia de mantener niveles suficientes de vitamina D para prevenir varias enfermedades crónicas. Sin embargo, la suplementación de vitamina D sobre la calciuria es controvertida. El objetivo de este trabajo prospectivo, intervencionista, fue evaluar la respuesta de la calciuria en mujeres con hipercalciuria y normocalciuria, luego de conseguir niveles adecuados de 25 OH D. Se estudiaron 63 mujeres con hipercalciuria idiopática (9 con litiasis renal) y 50 mujeres normocalciúricas. Ambos grupos presentaron déficit/insuficiencia de 25 OH D y fueron suplementadas con vitamina D2 o D3 semanales o vitamina D3 en dosis de 100 000 UI mensuales. A todas se les midió la calciuria basal y final al alcanzar el valor de 25 OH D deseado (> 30 ng/dl). No observamos cambios significativos en los valores de la calciuria inicial y final en las que recibieron vitamina D2 o D3 semanal ni en las que recibieron dosis mensuales. Sin embargo, un subgrupo de mujeres: 19% (n = 12) de las hipercalciúricas y 12% (n = 6) de las normocalciúricas (con vitamina D semanal) aumentaron la calciuria en forma significativa. Mientras que, con dosis mensuales, un 40% (n = 4/10) de las hipercalciúricas y 44% (n = 4/9) de las hipercalciúricas con litiasis renal aumentaron la calciuria. En conclusión, niveles adecuados de 25 OH D son seguros en la mayoría de las pacientes. En aquellas que requieren dosis de carga mensuales podrían observarse aumentos de la calciuria en forma significativa con riesgo de formar cálculos renales o perder masa ósea, cuando están genéticamente predispuestas.

Several studies show the importance of serum vitamin D sufficient levels to prevent multiple chronic diseases. However, vitamin D supplementation and its effects on urine calcium excretion remain controversial. The objective of this prospective and interventional study was to evaluate urine calcium excretion in women with normal calciuria or hypercalciuria, once serum vitamin D sufficiency was achieved. We studied 63 women with idiopathic hypercalciuria, (9 with renal lithiasis) and 50 normocalciuric women. Both groups had serum vitamin D levels low (deficiency or insufficiency). Baseline urine calcium excretion was measured before being supplemented with vitamin D2 or D3 weekly or vitamin D3 100.000 IU monthly. Once serum vitamin D levels were corrected achieving at least 30 ng/ml, a second urine calcium excretion was obtained. Although in the whole sample we did not observe significant changes in urine calcium excretion according to the way of supplementation, some of those with weekly supplementation had significant higher urine calcium excretion, 19% (n = 12) of hypercalciuric women and 12% (n = 6) of the normocalciuric group. Monthly doses, also showed higher urine calcium excretion in 40% of hypercalciuric women (n = 4/10) and in 44% (n = 4/9) of the renal lithiasis hypercalciuric patients. In conclusion, different ways of vitamin D supplementation and adequate serum levels are safe in most patients, although it should be taken into account a subgroup, mainly with monthly loading doses, that could increase the calciuria significantly eventually rising renal lithiasis risk or bone mass loss, if genetically predisposed.

Kidney stones: composition, frequency and relation to metabolic diagnosis

Nephrolithiasis is one of the most frequent urologic diseases. The aim of this paper is to study the composition and frequency of 8854 patient kidney stones and in a subset of them their metabolic risk factors to be related to their type of calculi. Physicochemical and crystallographic methods were used to assess kidney stone composition. In a subset of 715 patients, we performed an ambulatory metabolic protocol with diagnostic purposes. From the total sample 79% of stones were made of calcium salts (oxalate and phosphate), followed by uric acid stones in 16.5%, calcium salts and uric acid in 2%, other salts in 1.9% and cystine in 0.6%. Male to female ratio was almost three times higher in calcium salts and other types of stones, reaching a marked male predominance in uric acid stones, M/F 18.8 /1.0. The major risk factors for calcium stones are idiopathic hypercalciuria, followed by unduly acidic urine pH and hyperuricosuria. In uric acid stones unduly acidic urine pH and less commonly hyperuricosuria are the most frequent biochemical diagnosis. Our results show that analysis of kidney stones composition and the corresponding metabolic diagnosis may provide a scientific basis for the best management and prevention of kidney stone formation, as well as it may help us to study the mechanisms of urine stone formation.

La litiasis renal es una de las enfermedades urológicas más frecuentes. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la composición y frecuencia de 8854 cálculos renales y evaluar en un subgrupo de ellos la relación de los factores de riesgo metabólicos con el tipo de cálculo hallado. Se utilizaron métodos fisicoquímicos y cristalográficos para evaluar la composición de los cálculos renales. En un subgrupo de 715 pacientes, se pudo realizar un protocolo metabólico ambulatorio con fines diagnóstico. De la muestra total, 79.0% de los cálculos fueron de sales de calcio (oxalato y fosfato), seguido por cálculos de ácido úrico en 16.5%, sales de calcio y ácido úrico en 2.0%, otras sales en 1.9% y cistina en 0.6%. La relación hombre/mujer fue casi tres veces mayor en las sales de calcio y otros tipos de cálculos, alcanzando un marcado predominio en varones con cálculos de ácido úrico, M/F 18.8/1.0. Los principales factores de riesgo para los cálculos de calcio fueron la hipercalciuria idiopática, seguida del pH urinario excesivamente ácido y la hiperuricosuria. En los cálculos de ácido úrico el pH urinario excesivamente ácido y con menor frecuencia la hiperuricosuria fueron los diagnósticos más frecuentes. Nuestros resultados muestran que el análisis de la composición de los cálculos renales y el correspondiente diagnóstico metabólico pueden proporcionar una base científica para el mejor manejo y prevención en la formación de cálculos renales, así como que nos puede ayudar a estudiar los mecanismos de formación de los mismos.

Long-term treatment of renal lithiasis with potassium citrate.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the urine metabolic changes induced by sustained potassium citrate (KCit) treatment in patients with either hypocitraturia (HCit) or "unduly acidic urine pH" (UAUpH), and to determine the remission rate in those patients treated for more than 24 months. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 215 adult patients with recurrent renal stones whose only urinary metabolic risk factors were either HCit (n = 95) or UAUpH (n = 120) and had been treated with KCit for more than 3 months. RESULTS: In patients with Hcit (55 men and 40 women, mean age was 43 ± 14 years), Kcit therapy (average dose 48 ± 14.7 mEq/d) caused a sustained increase in urinary citrate to normal levels, in urinary potassium and pH and in serum potassium. In patients with UAUpH (73 men and 47 women; mean age 48.7 ± 12 years), Kcit therapy (average dose 42.8 ± 15.5 mEq/d) produced a significant increase in urinary pH, potassium, and uric acid. Remission rate was studied in 35 of these patients, whose median follow-up of 31.6 ± 14.3 months. All of these patients received a mean dose of potassium citrate of 45.4 ± 15.2 mEq/d. In 91% of these patients, there was no stone recurrence, similar for Hcit and UAUpH patients. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with potassium citrate corrects the metabolic abnormalities seen in patients with Hcit and UAUpH. This was associated with a very high remission rate of stone disease.

Clinical and metabolic risk factor evaluation in young adults with kidney stones.

INTRODUCTION: The most frequent urine metabolic risk factor in adults is idiopathic hypercalciuria while in children is hypocitraturia. If there is really a change of metabolic abnormalities with age it would be interesting to study risk factors in the intermediate population: young adults. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated metabolic risk factors, clinical presentation and family history of stone formers between 17 and 27 years old. METHODS: A total of 160 patients (87 males and 73 females) were studied with a standard protocol. RESULTS: A single urine metabolic risk factor was present in 64% of the patients, and multiple risk factors were present in 27% of them. No metabolic abnormalities were found in the remaining 9%. The most common urine risk factor was idiopathic hypercalciuria (alone or in combination), which was identified in 42.5% followed by hypocitraturia (alone or in combination) found in 32.9% of the patients. In the subgroup of patients of 17-20 years (n = 75; mean age of 18.8 + or - 1.0 years), hypocitraturia (alone or in combination) was as frequent as idiopathic hypercalciuria (alone or in combination), which was identified in 38% (n = 30) and 36.7% (n = 29), respectively. The most frequent form of presentation was renal colic (72%). A positive family history of stone disease in first degree and second-degree relatives was found in 32.9 and 34.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic abnormalities were found in 91% of young adults with renal lithiasis, similar to our adult series. Hypercalciuria was the most frequent metabolic abnormality found. Yet, hypocitraturia (alone or in combination) was very frequent, and in the subgroup of patients of 17-20 years, it was as frequent as idiopathic hypercalciuria, similar to what we found in children.

Citrato y litiasis renal / Citrate and renal stones

El citrato es un potente inhibidor de la cristalización de sales de calcio. La hipocitraturia es una alteración bioquímica frecuente en la formación de cálculos de calcio en adultos y especialmente en niños. El pH ácido (sistémico, tubular e intracelular) es el principal determinante de la excreción de citrato en la orina. Si bien la mayoría de los pacientes con litiasis renal presentan hipocitraturia idiopática, hay un número de causas para esta anormalidad que incluyen acidosis tubular renal distal, hipokalemia, dietas ricas en proteínas de origen animal y/o dietas bajas en álcalis y ciertas drogas, como la acetazolamida, topiramato, IECA y tiazidas. Las modificaciones dietéticas que benefician a estos pacientes incluyen: alta ingesta de líquidos y frutas, especialmente cítricos, restricción de sodio y proteínas, con consumo normal de calcio. El tratamiento con citrato de potasio es efectivo en pacientes con hipocitraturia primaria o secundaria y en aquellos desordenes en la acidificación, que provocan un pH urinario persistentemente ácido. Los efectos adversos son bajos y están referidos al tracto gastrointestinal. Si bien hay diferentes preparaciones de citrato (citrato de potasio, citrato de sodio, citrato de potasio-magnesio) en nuestro país solo está disponible el citrato de potasio en polvo que es muy útil para corregir la hipocitraturia y el pH urinario bajo, y reducir marcadamente la recurrencia de la litiasis renal.

Citrate is a powerful inhibitor of the crystallization of calcium salts. Hypocitraturia is a biochemical common alteration in calcium stone formation in adults and especially in children. The acid pH (systemic, tubular and intracellular) is the main determinant of citrate excretion in the urine. While the etiology of hypocitraturia is idiopathic in most patients with kidney stones, there are a number of causes for this abnormality including distal renal tubular acidosis, hypokalemia, diets rich in animal protein and / or diets low in alkali and certain drugs, such as acetazolamide, topiramate, ACE inhibitors and thiazides. Dietary modifications that benefit these patients include high intake of fluids and fruits, especially citrus, sodium and protein restriction, with normal calcium intake. Treatment with potassium citrate is effective in patients with primary or secondary hypocitraturia and acidification disorders, which cause unduly acidic urine pH persistently. Adverse effects are low and are referred to the gastrointestinal tract. While there are various preparations of citrate (potassium citrate, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, magnesium) in our country is available only potassium citrate powder that is useful to correct both the hypocitraturia and the low urinary pH and reduce markedly the recurrence of kidney stones.

Metabolic risk factors in children with kidney stone disease.

The evaluation of metabolic risk factor in children with renal stone disease is the basis of medical treatment aimed at preventing recurrent stone events and the growth of preexisting calculi. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the metabolic risk factors and clinical and family histories of 90 children with kidney stone disease who had been referred to our institution and subjected to clinical tests using a standardized protocol. The mean age of our pediatric patients was 10.7 years, and the male:female ratio was 1.14:1.0. Biochemical abnormalities were found in 84.4% of all cases. A single urine metabolic risk factor was present in 52.2% (n = 47) of the patients, and multiple risk factors were present in the remaining 31.1% (n = 28). Idiopathic hypercalciuria (alone or in combination) and hypocitraturia (alone or in combination) were the most frequent risk factors identified in 40 and 37.8% of these patients, respectively. Renal colic or unspecified abdominal pain were the most frequent forms of presentation (76.9%), with 97.5% of stones located in the upper urinary tract. In most patients, stone disease was confirmed by renal ultrasonography (77%). A positive family history in first-degree and second-degree relatives was found in 46.2 and 32.5% of the cases, respectively. We conclude that specific urine metabolic risk factors are found in most children with kidney stones and that hypocitraturia is as frequent as hypercalciuria. Very often there is a positive family history of renal stone disease in first- and second-degree relatives.

Long term effect of thiazides on bone mass in women with hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis / Efecto a largo plazo de tiziadas sobre la masa ósea en mujeres con hipercalciuria nefrolitiasis

Background: Decreased bone mineral density and increased prevalence of bone fractures have been found in patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria. It is not yet clear if thiazide treatment prevent these events. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated bone mass and biochemical markers of bone turnover in response to thiazide therapy in 52 consecutive female patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria and nephrolithiasis. Patients were divided in two subgroups according to their menopausal status: 25 were pre-menopausal (Group I) and 27 were postmenopausal (Group II). Results: Osteoporosis was found in 12 patients at baseline, 9 at the lumbar spine and 6 at the femoral neck. Two were pre-menopausal and 10 were postmenopausal. Patients with osteoporosis were analyzed separately (Group III). There was a significant and persistent reduction in urinary calcium with preservation of bone mass in all the groups after a median follow-up of 51 months. Few adverse effects were found using low doses of hydrochlorothiazide / amiloride. Only in the group III we found a statistcally significant an increase in BMD at the lumbar spine of 9.5% and an increase in BMD at femoral neck of 4.4% that did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: We conclude that correction of hypercalciuria during long term treatment with low-dose hydrochlorothiazide//amiloride in women with nephrolithiasis prevents bone loss and in those with osteoporosis can lead to a significant increase in bone mineral density at the lumbar spine. Few adverse effects were seen during treatment and no interruption of therapy was necessary.

Introducción: Reducción de la densidad mineral ósea y aumento de la prevalencia de fracturas óseas se han encontrado en pacientes con hipercalciuria idiopática. Aún no está claro si el tratamiento con tiazidas prevenir estos eventos. Métodos: Evaluamos retrospectivamente la masa ósea y los marcadores bioquímicos de recambio óseo en respuesta a la terapia con tiazidas en 52 pacientes femeninos consecutivos con hipercalciuria idiopática y nefrolitiasis. Los pacientes fueron divididos en dos subgrupos de acuerdo a su estado de la menopausia : 25 fueron pre-menopáusicas (Grupo I) y 27 eran posmenopáusicas (Grupo II). Resultados: La osteoporosis se encontró en 12 pacientes al inicio del estudio, 9 en la columna lumbar y 6 en el cuello femoral. Dos eran premenopáusicas y 10 eran posmenopáusicas. Los pacientes con osteoporosis se analizaron por separado (Grupo III). Hubo una reducción significativa y persistente en el calcio urinario con la preservación de la masa ósea en todos los grupos después de una mediana de seguimiento de 51 meses. Pocos efectos adversos se encuentran utilizando dosis bajasde hidroclorotiazida / amilorida. Sólo en el grupo III encontramos un aumento estadísticamente significativo en la DMO de la columna lumbar del 9,5% y un aumento de la densidad mineral ósea en el cuello femoral de 4,4% que no alcanzó significación estadística. Conclusión: Llegamos a la conclusión de que la corrección de la hipercalciuria durante el tratamiento a largo plazo con dosis bajas de hidroclorotiazida / / amilorida en mujeres con nefrolitiasis previene la pérdida ósea y en aquellos con osteoporosis puede conducir a un aumento significativo en la densidad mineral ósea en la columna lumbar. Pocos se observaron efectos adversos durante el tratamiento y no hay interrupción de la terapia era necesario.

La dieta en el tratamiento de la litiasis renal. Bases fisiopatológicas / [Diet in the treatment of renal lithiasis. Pathophysiological basis].

The composition of urine is influenced by diet and changes in dietary factors have been proposed to modify the risk of recurrent nephrolithiasis. Nutrients that have been implicated include calcium, oxalate, sodium, animal protein, magnesium and potassium. There is significant evidence showing that a high calcium diet is associated with a reduction of lithogenic risk. One of the possible mechanisms to explain this apparent paradox is that the higher intake of calcium in the intestine binds with dietary oxalate, reducing its absorption and urinary excretion. Oxalate from the diet seems to provide only a small contribution to excretion and dietary restriction is appropriate only in those with hyperoxaluria and hyperabsorption. Observational studies have shown a positive and independent association between sodium intake and the formation of new kidney stones. Consumption of animal protein creates an acid load that increases urinary excretion of calcium and uric acid and reduced citrate, all factors that could participate in the genesis of stones. Potassium-rich foods increase urinary citrate because of its alkali content. In prospective observational studies, diets rich in magnesium were associated with a lower risk of kidney stone formation in men. In conclusion, diet is a key element in the management of the patient with kidney stones but always subordinated to present metabolic risk factors.

Litiasis renal: modificaciones bioquimicas durante el seguimiento / Renal lithiasis: biochemical changes in the follow-up

Con el objeto de evaluar si se producen modificaciones bioquímicas durante el seguimiento de pacientesnefrolitiásicos, se estudiaron 237 pacientes (115 mujeres y 122 hombres con una edad promediode 39 ± 8 y 42 ± 7 años respectivamente) controlados durante 23.7 ± 19.3 meses. A todos se les realizó un estudio metabólico de litiasis renal inicial y como mínimo uno o más posteriormente con las mismas características que el basal. No fueron incluidos pacientes con los diagnósticos de riñón en esponja, acidosis renotubular, hiperparatiroidismo primario, malformaciones renales o infecciones urinarias. Del total de pacientes, 139 (Grupo I) presentaron en el seguimiento una modificación metabólica no evidenciada en el estudio inicial, mientras que 98 (Grupo II) no. El tiempo de seguimiento de los primeros, no fue significativamente diferente de aquellos que no modificaron el diagnóstico basal. Las alteraciones bioquímicas agregadas más frecuentes fueron, hipocitraturia en el 43.1%, hipercalciuria idiopática en 20.8% y alteraciones del ácido úrico en 16.5%. De 110 pacientes seguidos más de 3 años, 37 (33%) recurrieron. De éstos, 25 (23%) modificaron el diagnóstico metabólico basal vs. 12 (11%) que mantuvieron el mismo diagnóstico (p < 0.002). Cambios en las alteraciones bioquímicas fueron observados con frecuencia en el seguimiento de pacientes con nefrolitiasis. Estos cambios no se asocian necesariamente a la dieta o a las drogas administradas. La hipocitraturia fue el diagnóstico bioquímico más frecuentemente agregado. Observamos mayor recurrencia en aquellos que modificaron el diagnóstico inicial y cuya modificación no fue corregida durante el seguimiento.

With the aim of assessing if biochemicalchanges occur in the follow up of patients with renal lithiasis, 237 patients were studied (115 womenand 122 men, mean age 39 ± 8 and 42 ± 7 years, respectively) and controlled during 27.3 ± 19.3 months. All ofthem had previously undergone metabolic evaluations at baseline and one or more than one control studies afterwards. Patients with a diagnosis of sponge kidney, renal tubular acidosis, primary hyperparathyroidism, anatomical malformations of the urinary tract, or urinary infections were not included. Two populations were identified: those who presented changes in the baseline diagnosis (139 patients, Group I) and those who presentedno changes (98 patients, Group II). In these groups, no differences were observed in baseline metabolic diagnoses or in the follow-up period. Hypocitraturia was the additional diagnosis most frequently observed (43.1%), followed by Idiopatic hypercalciuria (20.8%) and abnormalities of uric acid (16.5%). In the group of 110 patients followed up for more than 3 years, 37 patients recurred (33%). Among the latter, 25 (23%) changed the baseline metabolic diagnosis vs. 12 (11%) that maintained the same diagnosis (p < 0.002). Changes in metabolic disorders were frequently observed in the follow up of patients with nephrolithiasis. These changes are not necessarily associated with the diet indicated or drug treatment. Hypocitraturia was the additional metabolic disorder mostfrequently found. In general, there is a higher recurrence rate in those patients who present changes in their biochemical parameters and undergo no treatment.

Fósforo oculto: identificación de aditivos a base de fósforo en alimentos procesados según la información brindada en sus rótulos nutricionales / Hidden phosphorus: identification of phosphorus-based additives in processed foods according to the information present in its nutritional labels

En forma creciente se están agregando aditivos que contienen fósforo a los productos alimenticios. Este agregado a alimentos procesados se produce por una variedad de razones, tales como preservativos, como agentes leudantes, como mejora dores de sabor, etc. Dado que estos aditivos son agregados a alimentos que naturalmente contienen fósforo así como a otros que no lo contienen, la estimación de contenido total de fósforo por tablas se hace dificultosa, considerándose como una fuente oculta de fósforo.