Treatment of idiopathic hypercalciuria with indapamide

Twenty-six patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria (urine calcium level greater than 300 mg/24 h [7.5 mmol/d]) were treated with indapamide (a nonthiazide diuretic), 2.5 mg/d for 3 consecutive months. A mean decrease in urine calcium levels of 52% was noted (p less than 0.05). When therapy with indapamide was stopped, the calcium levels returned to pretherapy values. The effect of indapamide on urine calcium levels was similar to that of hydrochlorothiazide in 10 patients who were receiving the latter drug before therapy with indapamide. The results show that indapamide is an efficient drug for the treatment of idiopathic hypercalciuria.