[Calcium oxalate stones and hyperoxaluria secondary to treatment with pyridoxilate]

Pyridoxilate is a salt formed from glyoxylic acid and pyridoxine. It has been used therapeutically as an antianoxic drug in the treatment of various arterial complaints. Its use is based theoretically on its ability to block the conversion of glyoxylic acid into oxalic acid. The following cases suggest, however, that pyridoxilate can cause stones. Intraperitoneal injection of glyoxylate in doses of 130 mg/kg will cause oxalate stones in rats. The same effect results from injection of 427 mg/kg pyridoxilate (i.e. an equivalent dose of glyoxylate). In human subjects, intravenous injection of 200 mg of pyridoxilate results in a fourfold increase in the urinary oxalic acid content in the two hours following the injection. Thirteen cases of chronic progressive oxalate stone disease have recently been reported in patients receiving a prolonged course of pyridoxilate at 450 to 600 mg daily. Eight of these patients had no previous history of lithiasis. Oxaluria levels of 80 to 100 mg daily are observed in all cases of lithiasis in patients receiving pyridoxilate. The levels fell after cessation of the pyridoxilate treatment, and reverted to normal (30 mg/24 hours) in all but three patients. These three patients maintained levels of close to 50 mg and all three had a previous history of urolithiasis.