[A study of the causes of staghorn calculi]

A thorough metabolic evaluation of all staghorn stone patients seems justified, considering the results obtained by the study of 27 such cases. Pak's ambulatory screening test, slightly modified, was used. This allowed the finding of a hypercalciuria in more than 50% of the cases, a hyperuricosuria in 63% of the cases and a hyperoxaluria in one case out of five. A metabolic anomaly was not detected in two patients. Although urinary tract infection, present in 75% of the cases is essential to the genesis of a staghorn stone, the question raises whether metabolic anomalies are not the primary cause of the stone formation.