Association of urinary sex steroid hormones with urinary calcium, oxalate and citrate excretion in kidney stone formers.

BACKGROUND: Sex-specific differences in nephrolithiasis with respect to both distribution of prevalence and stone composition are widely described and may be influenced by sex hormones. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between 24-h urinary sex hormone metabolites measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with urinary calcium, oxalate and citrate excretion in a cohort of 628 kidney stone formers from a tertiary care hospital in Switzerland, taking demographic characteristics, kidney function and dietary factors into account. RESULTS: We observed a positive association of urinary calcium with urinary testosterone and 17ß-oestradiol. Positive associations of urinary calcium with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 5α-DH-testosterone, aetiocholanolone, androsterone and oestriol were modified by net gastrointestinal alkali absorption or urinary sulphate excretion. As the only sex hormone, DHEA was inversely associated with urinary oxalate excretion in adjusted analyses. Urinary citrate correlated positively with urinary testosterone. Associations of urinary citrate with urinary androsterone, 17ß-oestradiol and oestriol were modified by urinary sulphate or sodium or by sex. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary androgens and oestrogens are significantly associated with urinary calcium and citrate excretion and associations are modified in part by diet. Our data furthermore reveal DHEA as a novel factor associated with urinary oxalate excretion in humans.

Distinct phenotype of kidney stone formers with renal phosphate leak.

Background: Hypercalciuria is the most frequent metabolic disorder encountered in kidney stone formers (SF). Reduced renal phosphate reabsorption (i.e. renal phosphate leak) was proposed to be a driver of hypercalciuria in calcium SF. However, the phenotype of SF with renal phosphate leak remains poorly defined and the association of renal phosphate leak with stone history, stone composition and bone mineral density (BMD) has not been studied. Methods: To fill these knowledge gaps, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis in a cohort of 555 idiopathic calcareous SF. The ratio of tubular maximum reabsorption of phosphate to glomerular filtration rate (TmP/GFR) was used to evaluate renal phosphate transport. Results: Multivariable regression analyses revealed a negative association of parathyroid hormone (PTH), a positive association of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) and 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) but no association of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) with TmP/GFR. SF with low TmP/GFR had their first stone event at a younger age and were more likely to have a positive family history of kidney stones. In addition, urinary calcium excretion and prevalence of brushite stones were significantly higher in SF with low TmP/GFR. However, BMD, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, was not associated with TmP/GFR in SF. Conclusions: Renal phosphate handling has a strong heritable component in SF and correlates with PTH, 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D, but not with FGF23 levels. Furthermore, a low TmP/GFR (i.e. a renal phosphate leak) is associated with higher urinary calcium excretion and an increased prevalence of brushite stones.

Predictors of Bone Mineral Density in Kidney Stone Formers.

Introduction: Nephrolithiasis is associated with an increased fracture risk, but predictors of bone mineral density (BMD) in stone formers (SFs) remain poorly defined. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis in the Bern Kidney Stone Registry (BKSR), an observational cohort of kidney SFs. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years and ≥1 past stone episode. Participants with non-calcium (Ca)-containing kidney stones, a history of primary hyperparathyroidism or antiresorptive or anabolic bone treatment were excluded. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to assess the association of blood and 24-hours urine parameters and stone composition with BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Results: In the analysis, 504 participants were included, mean age was 46 years, and 76% were male. In multivariable analyses, fasting (ß: -0.031; P = 0.042), postload (ß: -0.059; P = 0.0028) and Δ postload - fasting (ß: -0.053; P = 0.0029) urine Ca-to-creatinine ratios after 1 week of a sodium- and Ca- restricted diet and Ca oxalate dihydrate stone content (ß: -0.042; P = 0.011) were negatively associated with z scores at the lumbar spine. At the femoral neck, alkaline phosphatase (ß: -0.035; P = 0.0034) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) (ß: -0.035; P = 0.0026) were negatively associated with z scores, whereas 24-hours urine Ca (ß: 0.033; P = 0.0085), magnesium (ß: 0.043; P = 3.5 × 10-4), and potassium (ß: 0.032; P = 0.012) correlated positively with z scores at the femoral neck. Conclusion: Our study reveals distinct predictors of BMD in SFs. Commonly available clinical parameters, such as kidney stone composition results, can be used to identify SFs at risk for low BMD.