[The indices of cell membrane destabilization in urolithiasis patients]

The paper gives the results of a clinical and biochemical study of 165 patients with urolithiasis and 46 healthy persons. Their urinary samples and renal biopsy specimens were analysed to assess the structural and functional status of nephron cell membranes. In urolithiasis patients, the urine was found to contain a great quantities of emulsified lipids enriched in toxic phospholipid and cholesterol metabolism products; renal tissue cytomembranes in the patients were depleted of phospholipids, free cholesterol and enriched in phospholipid lysoforms and cholesterol esters. Lipid phase destabilization of nephron epithelial membranes was shown to be pathogenetically associated with concrement formation. The examination of emulsified urinary lipids is an objective tool of renal tissue crystallization activity and may be recommended for the early diagnosis of urolithiasis, as well as an indicator of membrane-stabilizing therapy efficiency.