Graphic Display of Urinary Risk Factors for Renal Stone Formation

From the analysis of various urinary constituents and the estimation of urinary saturation of stone-forming salts, it is now possible to identify risk factors responsible for or contributing to stone formation. Metabolic factors included calcium, oxalate, uric acid, citrate and pH. Environmental factors were total volume, sodium, sulfate, phosphate and magnesium. Physicochemical factors represented saturation of calcium oxalate, brushite, monosodium urate, struvite and uric acid. A scheme for graphic display of risk factors was developed to allow ready visual recognition of important risk factors presumed to cause stone formation. This graphic display had diagnostic use as well as practical value in following response to treatment. For example, a low urinary pH and high urinary concentration of undissociated uric acid could be discerned readily in cases of uric acid lithiasis, as were high urinary pH and exaggerated urinary supersaturation of struvite in cases of infection lithiasis. In a patient with absorptive hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia treatment with thiazide and potassium citrate could be shown to abolish high risks (hypercalciuria, hypocitraturia and relative supersaturation of calcium oxalate) displayed before treatment.