[Pathogenic factors in calcium oxalate stones: Epidemiological investigation]

Calcium oxalate stones are the most common urolithiasis. Changes in dietary habits, socio-economic and health status of populations explain its progression. The aim of our study was to determine metabolic factors leading to lithiasis and clarify its causes.

This is a retrospective study of 100 patients with calcium oxalate stones identified by morpho-constitutional study, collected in our department over a period of 5 years (2008-2013). We analyzed clinical, radiological and metabolic data.

They were 73 men and 27 women (gender ratio: 2.7), aged meanly of 44.8 years. Dietary survey revealed inadequate calcium intake in 87% of cases. Urinary abnormalities were hypocitraturia (34%), hypomagnesuria (32%) and outflow hypercalciuria (21%). Crystalluria was positive in 44% of cases. Whewellite was the most common crystalline form. Calculi were bilateral (53%), renal (85%) and mainly collected after urological procedures (74%). Infrared analysis showed that 81% of stones have a heterogeneous composition. Pure Whewellite or combined with other compounds was the most frequent (31%). Idiopathic calcium oxalate lithiasis was the most common etiology (69%). Among secondary etiologies, diabetes was most frequently found (10%).

Our epidemiological study of calcium oxalate stones has allowed us to identify the high frequency of food hyperoxaluria partly explained by a low calcium intake and a diet rich in oxalate phytotherapy.

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