Biochemical changes before and during oral calcium tolerance test in calcium stone formers

116 normocalcemic and 8 primary hyperparathyroid (PHPT) patients with calcium (Ca) nephrolithiasis and 10 normal controls underwent 1 g of oral Ca tolerance test following 4 days of Ca restricted diet (400 mg/day). On the basis of urinary Ca/creatinine (Cr) ratio obtained by the test, the 116 patients with normocalcemic nephrolithiasis were divided into 3 groups (normocalciuric nephrolithiasis; NN, absorptive hypercalciuria; AH, renal hypercalciuria; RH) according to our criteria which were slightly modified from Pak et al. Changes in urinary Ca/Cr ratio, and those in serum Ca and phosphorus (P), tubular maximum reabsorption of phosphate/glomerular filtration rate (TmPO4/GFR), nephrogenous adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (NcAMP) and plasma immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were determined. As a result, the 116 patients were divided into 82NN, 13AH and 21RH. In general, a rise in serum Ca and fall in NcAMP were seen first, followed by rises in urinary Ca/Cr ratio, serum P and TmPO4/GFR although the changes were small. The group PHPT showed abnormality in the changes of TmPO4/GFR, NcAMP and plasma iPTH. The former one decreased constantly during the test and the latter two did not fall to within the normal range, suggesting parathyroid autonomy or abnormal suppressibility. Regarding the normal controls, all the changes were smallest among the 5 groups and clear parathyroid suppression was not observed while it was seen in the groups NN, AH and RH. In conclusion, oral Ca tolerance test is useful not only to separate NN, AH and RH, but also for the diagnosis of PHPT by demonstrating parathyroid autonomy or abnormal suppressibility assessed by NcAMP and/or TmPO4/GFR.