PURPOSE: The target of our work was to study several biochemical parameters in phospho-calcic and bone metabolism in blood and urine and the bone mineral density of women with recurrent calcium nephrolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a control group of 85 women divided into 3 groups: group 1 consisted of 25 women without a history of nephrolithiasis, group 2 consisted of 35 women with only one episode of calcium nephrolithiasis, and group 3 consisted of 25 women with a history of recurrent calcium nephrolithiasis. Blood and urine biochemical study was performed, including markers related to lithiasis, and a bone mineral density study was done by use of bone densitometry. RESULTS: Patients in group 3 showed statistically significantly elevated calciuria (15.4 mg/dL), fasting calcium/creatinine ratio (0.14), and 24-hour calcium/creatinine ratio (0.21) compared with groups 1 and 2. Moreover, this group of women with recurrent calcium nephrolithiasis had significantly elevated values of beta-crosslaps, a bone resorption marker, compared with groups 1 and 2 (p=0.000) and showed more bone mineral density loss than did these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent calcium nephrolithiasis in women has a significant association with bone mineral density loss and with values of calciuria, both fasting and 24-hour.
Bone Density ; Bone Resorption ; Calcium ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Lithiasis ; Nephrolithiasis ; Urolithiasis

INTRODUCTIONThis study assessed the presence of osteoporosis/osteopenia in patients with severe lithogenic activity and compared their metabolisms with those in patients without lithiasis or with mild lithogenic activity.

METHODSFrom a sample of 182 patients, those with osteopenia/osteoporosis at the hip and lumbar spine were studied separately in a two-pronged study. 66 patients with bone mineral densities (BMDs) < -1 standard deviation (SD) on a T-score scale at the hip were divided into three groups: group A1 without lithiasis (n = 15); group A2 with lithiasis and mild lithogenic activity (n = 22); and group A3 with lithiasis and severe lithogenic activity (n = 29). Similarly, 86 patients with BMDs < -1 SD on a T-score scale at the lumbar spine were divided into three groups: group B1 without lithiasis (n = 15); group B2 with lithiasis and mild lithogenic activity (n = 29); and group B3 with lithiasis and severe lithogenic activity (n = 42).

RESULTSPatients from group A3 exhibited significantly higher levels of bone remodelling markers as compared to groups A1 and A2. Urinalysis also revealed higher excretion of calcium in 24-hour assessments in this group. Patients from group B3 differed from groups B1 and B2 mainly in bone remodelling markers and 24-hour urinary calcium excretion, which were significantly elevated in patients from group B3.

CONCLUSIONPatients with calcium lithiasis and severe lithogenic activity in addition to osteopenia/osteoporosis present with higher levels of hypercalciuria and negative osseous balance, which possibly perpetuate and favour lithiasic activity.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adult ; Bone Density ; Bone Remodeling ; Calcium ; urine ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercalciuria ; complications ; metabolism ; Incidence ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrolithiasis ; complications ; metabolism ; Osteoporosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; metabolism ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spain ; epidemiology