[Role of phosphate in recurrent calcium lithiasis. A current view]

To analyze the biochemical impact of treatment with phosphates in patients with recurrent calcium lithiasis and hypercalciuria.

20 patients were selected according to the following criteria: normal renal function, recurrent calcium nephrolithiasis, hypercalciuria, hypophosphatemia, normal calcium and low tubular phosphate reabsorption (TPR). The mean duration of treatment was 7.5 +/- 3.8 months. The pre and post-treatment phosphatemia, calciuria, phosphaturia and TPR were analyzed. The results were analyzed by the Wilcoxon statistical method.

We found a moderate but significant decrease of calciuria (326.5 +/- 52-4 to 266.4 +/- 31.7 mg/24 h), while phosphatemia (2.21 +/- 0.09 to 2.52 +/- 0.30 mg/24 h) and TPR (65.7 +/- 6.3 to 71.3 +/- 4.1) increased significantly. Overall treatment was well-tolerated and no patient abandoned treatment.

The short-term biochemical results obtained are similar to those reported in the literature. However, definitive conclusions cannot be made since treatment application is not standardized and studies that demonstrate its clinical efficacy are scanty.