Nephrocalcinosis and idiopathic hypercalciuria

In a sample of 28 children diagnosed as having idiopathic hypercalciuria, ultrasound studies showed nephrocalcinosis in 6 cases, the rest having normal sonographs. On biochemical comparison, the two groups were statistically distinguishable by means of three parameters. The group with nephrocalcinosis showed higher values of calciuria and calciuria versus magnesuria ratio (p less than 0.05), as well as lower maximum urinary osmolality (p less than 0.01) than the group with normal sonographs. A negative correlation was found between the calciuria values and the values obtained from the concentration test (p less than 0.05). At present, the factors favoring the deposit of calcium salts in children with idiopathic hypercalciuria are not yet fully known.