Urine saturation with calcium salts in normal subjects and idiopathic calcium stone-formers estimated by an improved computer model system.

ABSTRACT

The state of saturation of urine with calcium salts has been estimated by means of a computer model system whose accuracy has been improved by the use of stability constants of 31 complexes which were re-determined at 37 degrees C and at the actual ionic strength of urine. The experimental determination of the concentration solubility products of calcium oxalate monohydrate (CaOx) and of calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (bsh) allows an expression of the saturation degree as free concentration product ratio beta CaOx and beta bsh. Morning urine samples from 50 healthy controls and 50 idiopathic calcium stone-formers and 24 h urines from 40 normal subjects and 192 stone-formers, taking normal diet were investigated by this technique. From our results urine supersaturation with calcium oxalate salts seems to play an important role in calcium stone disease. Hypercalciuria and hyperoxaluria seem to be the main pathological features in this regard. The data concerning beta bsh values have not confirmed previous reports in which this parameter was found to be increased in stone-formers.