[Diagnosis of hypercalciuria in calcium nephrolithiasis (author's transl)]

An increased calcium excretion in 24-hour urine was found in 32 of 42 out-patients with recurrent calcium nephrolithiasis (calcium excretion > 300 mg in males, > 250 mg in females). Subsequent hospitalization of the 32 patients revealed the following diagnosis after a calcium tolerance test: absorptive hypercalciuria in 18, renal hypercalciuria in 4, primary hyperparathyroidism in 2 and dietary hypercalciuria in 7. Normocalciuria in 10 out-patients was confirmed in 6; in one instance there was, however, primary hyperparathyroidism, in 3 there was absorptive hypercalciuria. In one patient it was not possible to classify the hypercalciuria. Total as well as nephrogenic cAMP showed wide scatter and was unsuitable, therefore, in differential diagnosis. In 2 of 3 cases of hyperparathyroidism the serum level of parathormone was distinctly elevated.