The possible role of prostaglandin E2 in urinary stone formation

To investigate the role of prostaglandin E2 in urinary stone formation, urinary prostaglandin E2 was measured by radioimmunoassay in 28 men with recurrent idiopathic urolithiasis (14 normocalciuric and 14 hypercalciuric patients) and 6 healthy male volunteers. Urinary prostaglandin E2 levels were significantly higher (p less than 0.01) in the hypercalciuric group than in the normocalciuric and healthy control groups, and they showed a positive correlation with urinary calcium excretion. Urinary prostaglandin E2 and calcium excretions in the hypercalciuric and normocalciuric groups were suppressed significantly by indomethacin. Creatinine clearance was not reduced by indomethacin. The results suggest that renal prostaglandin E2 may participate in calcium stone formation by regulating the renal tubular handling of calcium.