[Urinary pH relevance on urolithiasis management.]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Nephrology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Urinary pH significantly influences the formation and dissolution of urinary stones, including calcium oxalate, uric acid, cystine, and phosphates.
• Accurate urinary pH measurement is essential for guiding the treatment and prevention of urolithiasis.
• Traditional methods like glass electrodes are accurate but not portable, while test strips lack precision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on the importance of urinary pH in lithogenesis.
• To evaluate the accuracy and patient acceptance of a new portable electronic device for urinary pH measurement.
• To compare the new device with existing methods for urinary pH monitoring.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive bibliographic search was conducted in PubMed and EMBASE.
• Keywords included "URINARY pH", "Lithiasis", "Uro-Lihitiasis", "Urinary Stone", and "Urinary pH measurement".
• Articles, books, abstracts, and clinical guidelines in English and Spanish were compiled and reviewed.

Main Results:

• 66 articles, 3 books, an unpublished abstract, and European Urology Guidelines were selected.
• The literature confirms urinary pH's role in urolithiasis formation and prevention.
• A new portable electronic device demonstrated precision and accuracy in measuring urinary pH, with good patient acceptance, particularly for cystinuric patients.

Conclusions:

• Urinary pH is a critical factor in the management of lithiasic patients.
• Test strips are inadequate for accurate urinary pH measurement and medical decision-making.
• The new portable electronic device facilitates effective and easy urinary pH measurement by patients, aiding in maintaining non-lithogenic pH ranges and improving treatment outcomes.