[Medical treatment of calcium nephrolithiasis (author's transl)]

Calcium calculi are by far the most frequent of urinary stones. In many cases their formation is enhanced by lithogenetic abnormalities, including idiopathic calciuria. The basis of the treatment is to promote diuresis by absorbing for an indefinite period a mineral water containing less than 100 mg/l of calcium. There is no evidence that drugs reducing calciuria (thiazides, phosphorus) or uraturia (allopurinol) are effective, and they should be reserved to cases of rapidly progressive lithiasis. A long-term strategy for the prevention of lithiasis is discussed.