Urinary alkalisation for symptomatic uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women.

BACKGROUND: Uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common bacterial infection in women, characterised by dysuria and urinary frequency. Urinary alkalisers are widely used in some countries for the symptomatic treatment of uncomplicated UTI, and they are recommended in some national formularies. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence to support their use for UTI and some healthcare guidelines advise against their use. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to look at the benefits and harms of the use of urinary alkalisers for the treatment of uncomplicated UTIs in adult women. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Specialised Register to 19 January 2016 through contact with the Trials Search Co-ordinator using search terms relevant to this review. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs on the use of (any) urinary alkalisers (either exclusively or non-exclusively) for the symptomatic treatment of uncomplicated UTI amongst women aged 16 and over, were included. Studies were eligible if they included patients whose diagnosis of UTI was decided by symptoms alone, or positive urine dipstick test or urine culture; and patients with recurrent UTI, provided patients had no symptoms of UTI in the two weeks prior to the onset of symptoms that lead them to seek medical advice. Studies were ineligible if they studied patients with complicated UTIs; immune-compromising conditions; acute pyelonephritis; or chronic conditions such as interstitial cystitis. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Three authors independently assessed and screened papers, and this was repeated by two separate authors (independently). An additional investigator acted as arbitrator, where necessary. There were no papers which fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this review, and therefore no data extraction was performed. MAIN RESULTS: Our search identified 172 potential studies for inclusion. However, following assessment none fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this review. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Until relevant evidence is generated from randomised trials, the safety and efficacy of urinary alkalisers for the symptomatic treatment of uncomplicated UTI remains unknown.

Value of repeated analyses of 24-hour urine in recurrent calcium urolithiasis.

OBJECTIVES: The value of repeated analyses of 24-hour urine collections for daily excretion of calcium, uric acid, citrate, phosphorus, and creatinine and for volume and pH performed to detect and classify metabolic disorders in a selected group of calcium stone formers with striking recurrence rates was assessed in a retrospective study. METHODS: A total of 441 urinalyses made over a mean period of 80.4 months of samples obtained from 49 patients were reviewed. Fifty-nine percent of patients were initially found to have metabolic disorders (absorptive hypercalciuria types I and II, hyperuricuria, hypocitraturia) and therefore received specific drug therapy (allopurinol, thiazide, alkali citrate, orthophosphate) for a mean of 45.7 months (group I). The remaining patients were classified as metabolically inactive and were given general metaphylactic instructions (group II). RESULTS: In 73% of patients recurrent stones developed, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (79% vs 65%). In 55% of group I patients, urinalyses continued to yield abnormal findings during follow-up; however, subsequent abnormal findings were also seen in 40% of the metabolically inactive group II patients. Overall, metabolic disorders were observed at some point in 75% of patients. Only 27% remained recurrence free, and 62% thereof also had pathologic urinary findings. CONCLUSIONS: It does not appear that drug treatment in recurrent calcium urolithiasis based on urinary findings is superior to simple general metaphylactic recommendations, nor that repeated analyses of 24-hour urine collections furnish additional information on the risk of recurrent stone formation or on the presence of risk factors leading to recurrence in the long-term course of disease.

Time course and dose dependence of antacid effect on urine pH.

Daily administration of a proprietary magnesium and aluminum hydroxides suspension, 15 ml four times a day, to normal adult volunteers resulted in a statistically significant increase in urine pH on the 1st day of treatment. The urine pH's on the 2nd and subsequent days of treatment were statistically significantly higher than on the 1st day. A 7.5-ml dose of the antacid suspension, taken four times a day, had only a small and not statistically significant effect on urine pH, while 30 ml four times a day increased urine pH by approximately the same magnitude as the 15-ml doses. The effect of the antacid on urine pH persisted for at least 1 day after discontinuation of dosing.

Mechanism of oxalocalcic renal calculi generation.

Based on reconsideration of the contemporary knowledge on calcium oxalate urolithiasis a feasible mechanism of calculi generation is suggested. Experimental findings and clinical aspects supporting the suggested mechanism are presented. The ways of urolithiasis treatment and areas of future research are indicated.

Is hypocitraturia associated with phosphaturia--a potential cause of calcium urolithiasis in first-time stone formers.

The serum and 24 hour urinary excretion levels of various lithogenic and inhibitory substances were assessed in 24 male patients with calcium stone and no previous history of urolithiasis and in 19 age-matched controls. Two groups did not differ significantly (P < 0.01) except in the excretions of sodium, citric acid (being higher in normals) and inorganic phosphate (being higher in patients). Fifty percent patients had hyperphosphaturia, 29.2% hypocitraturia, 20.8% hyperoxaluria and 16.7% hypercalciuria. The present data suggests that hypocitraturia in association with phosphaturia might be one of the main risk factors responsible for calcium urolithiasis in this area.

Effect of routine doses of antacid on renal acidification.

Ten healthy volunteers took a magnesium and aluminium hydroxide antacid for 4 days, and their urinary acid excretion was measured. During antacid ingestion, blood bicarbonate levels did not change significantly, but there were highly significant rises in urine pH and bicarbonate excretion and falls in the 24 h excretion of titratable acid, ammonium, and net acid; the average change in net acid excretion was 41 +/- 4 mmol (72 +/- 9%) per 24 h. This large reduction in net acid excretion appears to result from neutralisation of more hydrochloric acid than sodium bicarbonate in the gastrointestinal tract rather than from absorption of exogenous alkali. Although metabolic alkalosis does not occur with their use in normal individuals, these antacids should not be termed "non-systemic". They might cause important changes in renal drug handling, solubility of excreted substances, or acid-base status in patients at risk.

Absence of gastrointestinal absorption or urinary excretion of aluminium from an allantoinate complex contained in two antacid formulations in patients with normal renal function.

We studied the plasma and urinary excretion levels of aluminum (Al) on day 0, 10 and 30 in 79 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and normal renal function who were receiving a complex based on Al allantoinates [C4H5N4 O3 Al (OH)2] and [C4H5N4 O3 Cl Al2 (OH)4]. We evaluated the extent of Al absorption after repeated administration of this complex in two antacid formulations, Ulfon Lyoc in lyophilised tablet form (group 1; n = 40) and Ulfon suspension (group 2; n = 39). The total Al load for each antacid and patient was 512 mg daily for a total of 15360 mg during the 30-day treatment. No significant rise in plasma Al concentration was noted with either formulation between day 0 and 10, day 0 and 30 or day 10 and 30, nor was there any significant increase in urinary excretion levels. Al absorption was not increased and no toxic effects were noted, indicating that such formulations are suitable for long-term therapy in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.

Effects of calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide and sodium citrate bicarbonate health supplements on the urinary risk factors for kidney stone formation.

We describe a model to illustrate different chemical interactions that can occur in urine following ingestion of individual and combined health supplements. Two types of interactions are defined: synergism and addition. The model was applied to eight healthy males who participated in a study to investigate the chemical interactions between calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide and sodium citrate-bicarbonate health supplements on calcium oxalate urinary stone risk factors. Subjects ingested these components individually and in combination for 7 days. Twenty-four-hour urines were collected at baseline and during the final day of supplementation. These were analysed using standard laboratory techniques. Three different chemical interactions, all involving citrate, were identified: magnesium and citrate exerted a synergistic effect on lowering the relative superaturation (RS) of brushite; the same two components produced a synergistic effect on raising pH; finally, calcium and citrate exerted an additive effect on lowering the RS of uric acid. We propose that the novel approach described in this paper allows for the evaluation of individual, additive and synergistic interactions in the assessment of the efficacy of stone-risk reducing preparations.

Urinary acidification and urinary excretion of calcium and citrate in women with bilateral medullary sponge kidney.

Urinary acidification ability, acid-base status and urinary excretion of calcium and citrate were evaluated in 10 women with bilateral medullary sponge kidney (MSK) and in 10 healthy women. Patients with MSK had higher fasting urine pH compared to normal controls (p < 0.01). Four patients had incomplete renal tubular acidiosis (iRTA), 3 had hypercalciuria, and 5 patients had hypocitraturia. The 24-hour urinary excretion of calcium was increased in the females with MSK (5.23 +/- 0.78 mmol) compared to the healthy females (3.49 +/- 0.29 mmol) (p < 0.02), and increased in MSK patients with iRTA (7.32 +/- 1.45 mmol) compared to patients with normal urinary acidification (3.83 +/- 0.12 mmol) (p < 0.01). The patients with iRTA had reduced levels of plasma standard bicarbonate (20.5 +/- 1.0) after fasting compared to patients with normal urinary acidification (23.8 +/- 0.8) and healthy women (22.7 +/- 0.6) (p < 0.01), and reduced levels of 24-hour urinary excretion of citrate (0.93 +/- 0.25 mmol) compared to patients with normal urinary acidification (3.58 +/- 0.51) and healthy women (2.78 +/- 0.49) (p < 0.005). A positive correlation was found between the degree of acidosis during ammonium chloride loading and urinary excretion of calcium (r = 0.71, p = 0.02), and a negative correlation between the degree of acidosis during ammonium chloride loading and urinary citrate excretion (r = 0.87, p = 0.001). The results suggest that defective urinary acidification might play an important role in the mechanism of hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia in patients with medullary sponge kidney.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)