Summary
In this study, the relative crystal growth rate (Vcr) of calcium oxalate (Caox) and a number of other parameters were determined in 17-h daily (d) and 7-h nocturnal fractions (n) of whole urine from 20 recurrent Caox stone formers (SF) and 29 age-matched male normal controls (NC). Vcr, which was determined by the gel crystallization method (GCM), showed the largest difference between SF and NC among all parameters under investigation. Mean values (±SD) obtained for Vcr were: 0.73±0.58 (SF-d)/0.21±0.22 (NC-d; P<0.001) and 0.63±0.58 (SF-n)/0.24±0.25 (NC-n; P<0.01). Significantly higher concentrations of Ca and lower concentrations of thermodynamic and kinetic effectors of Caox crystal growth were responsible for the higher crystal growth rates observed in SF as compared with NC, i.e., they should be partially causative in Caox urolithiasis. However, other properties of urine or the urinary tract (potentially, crystal agglomeration and adhesion) must be accounted for in the genesis of Caox stones.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Abraham PA, Smith LC (1987) Evaluation of factors involved in calcium stone formation. Miner Electrolyte Metab 13: 201
Achilles W (1985) Methodische Neuerungen des kinetischen Gelkristrallisationsverfahrens (GKV): automatisierte Messung des Kalziumoxalat-Kristallwachstums durch Scanning-Mikroskop-photometrie. Fortschr Urol Nephrol 23: 252
Achilles W (1987) Crystallization in gel matrices: a new experimental model of calcium stone formation. Contrib Nephrol 58: 59
Achilles W (1989) Kinetic quantification of crystal growth in gel matrices: an efficient model of urinary stone formation. In: Walker VR, Sutton RAL, Cameron ECB, Pak CYC, Robertson WG (eds) Urolithiasis. Plenum Press, New York London, p 47
Achilles W, Bewernick J (1990) The application of ICP atomic emission spectroscopy to research and diagnostic of urinary stone formation. In: Vahlensieck W, Gasser G, Hesse A, Schoeneich G (eds) Urolithiasis. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, p 108
Achilles W, Ulshöfer B (1985) Calculation of complex chemical equilibria in urine: estimation of the risk of stone formation and derivation of prophylactic measures. In: Schwille PO, Smith LH, Robertson WG, Vahlensieck W (eds) Urolithiasis and related clinical research. Plenum Press, New York, p 777
Achilles W, Ulshöfer B (1985) Der Einfluß von Harnparametern auf das ‘kinetische und thermodynamische Kristallbildungsrisiko’ von Kalziumoxalat. Fortschr Urol Nephrol 23: 341
Achilles W, Ulshöfer B (1986) Erfahrungen mit dem Gelkristallisationsverfahren (GKV): klinische Routinebestimmung der relativen Kristallwachstumsrate von Kalziumoxalat in unverdünnten Harnproben. Fortschr Urol Nephrol 25: 216
Achilles W, Schalk C, Bewernick J, Rodeck G (1989) Microdetermination of urinary constituents by vertical light-path photometry in microplates. In: Walker VR, Sutton RAL, Cameron ECB, Pak CYC, Robertson WG (eds) Urolithiasis. Plenum Press, New York London, p 549
Achilles W, Krzyzanek E, Schalk C (1990) The effects of major urinary constituents on the crystal growth of calcium oxalate in gel. In: Vahlensieck W, Gasser G, Hesse A, Schoeneich G (eds) Urolithiasis. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, p 56
Achilles W, Schulze D, Schalk C, Rodeck G (1990) The in-vivo effect of sodium-potassium citrate on the crystal growth rate of calcium oxalate and other parameters in human urine. Urol Res 18: 1
Baumann JM (1988) How to measure crystallization conditions in urine: a comparison of 7 methods. Urol Res 16: 137
Bernstein I, Achilles W (1990) Effects of Tamm-Horsfall protein on the growth and adhesion of calcium oxalate crystals. Urol Res 18: 62
Briellmann Th, Hering F, Seiler H, Rutishauser G (1985) The oxalate-tolerance value: a whole urine method to discriminate between calcium oxalate-stone formers and others. Urol Res 13: 291
Elliot JS (1973) A comparison of the chemical composition of urine in normal subjects and in patients with oxalate urinary calculi. In: Cifuentes Delatte L, Rapado A, Hodgkinson A (eds) Urinary calculi. Karger, Basel, p 24
Finlayson B (1982) Pathologic mineralization, nucleation, growth, and retention. In: Nancollas GH (ed) Biological mineralization and demineralization. Dahlem Konferenzen 1982. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, p 271
Kok DJ, Papapoulos SE, Bijvoet OLM (1990) Crystal agglomeration is a major element in calcium oxalate urinary stone formation. Kidney Int 37: 51
Markovic M, Vickovic D (1990) Methods for testing urine for the precipitation of calcium salts. In: Vahlensieck W, Gasser G, Hesse A, Schoeneich G (eds) Urolithiasis. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, p 114
Robertson WG, Peacock M, Nordin BEC (1968) Activity products in stone-forming and non-stone-forming urine. Clin Sci 34: 579
Robertson WG, Peacock M, Marshall RW, Marshall DH, Nordin BEC (1976) Saturation-inhibition index as a measure of the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation in the urinary tract. N Engl J Med 294: 249
Robertson WG, Hodgkinson A, Marshall DH (1977) Seasonal variations in the composition of urine from normal subjects: a longitudinal study. Clin Chim Acta 80: 347
Rose GA, Sulaiman S (1982) Tamm-Horsfall mucoprotein promotes calcium oxalate crystal formation in urine: quantitative studies. J Urol 127: 177
Ryall RL, Hibberd MC, Mazzachi BC, Marshall VR (1986) Inhibitory activity of whole urine: a comparison of urines from stone formers and healthy subjects. Clin Chim Acta 154: 59
Sarig S, Garti N, Azoury R, Wax Y, Perlberg S (1982) A method for discrimination between calcium oxalate kidney stone formers and normals. J Urol 128: 645
Tiselius H-G (1982) An improved method for the routine biochemical evaluation of patients with recurrent calcium oxalate stone disease. Clin Chim Acta 122: 409
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Achilles, W., Dekanić, D., Burk, M. et al. Crystal growth of calcium oxalate in urine of stone-formers and normal controls. Urol. Res. 19, 159–164 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00303742
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00303742