[Correlation of the Cause and Composition of Renal Calculi. Value of Morphologic and Infrared Analysis]

The morphological and infrared spectrophotometric analysis of the urinary stones of 300 patients have been reported in this article. Calculi are classified into six morphological types with their corresponding mineralogical natures. The type I (whewellite or C1) is pure in 18 p. cent of lithiasis, more often present in the center than on the surface, with hyperoxaluria in 81 p. cent. Calculi linked to piridoxilate intake (3 p. cent) have this composition. The type II (weddellite or C2) rarely pure, often associated with calcium phosphate are present in 47 p. cent of lithiasis, more often on the surface than in the center, and linked to hypercalciuria in 70 p. cent. The oxalates (C1 plus C2) are the most frequent components of calculi (75 p. cent). The type IIIa and IIIb (anhydrous and dehydrated uric acid) are pure in 8 p. cent, mixed in 6 p. cent; due to hyperuraturia in 55 p. cent, due to urinary acid pH in 60 p. cent. The type IVa (carbapatite) is pure in 5 p. cent, mixed in 26 p. cent, linked to hypercalciuria in 40 p. cent. The types IVb and IVc (struvite plus carbapatite) are present in 12 p. cent, due to urinary infection (90 p. cent), linked to proteus (70 p. cent). The type V (cystine) is rare, linked to hypercystinuria. The type VIa (1 p. cent) is made of proteins. The type VIb (2 p. cent) is composed of medications (triamterene, glafenine, antrafenine).