[The phenomenon of the pathological crystallization of stone-forming urinary salts in urolithiasis]

It is known that when drying a drop of biological liquid under the action of osmotic forces acquires certain structure. The salts, which possess stronger osmotic potential, undergo crystallization in the center of the drop while protein components form the peripheral amorphic zone. In urolithiasis this process is impaired and crystallization of lithogenic salts occurs in the protein zone of a urine drop. This phenomenon discovered by the authors is designated as phenomenon of pathological crystallization of urine lithogenic salts. In nephrology and urology the above phenomenon may find application in diagnosis and control of urolithiasis activity, assessment of efficacy of the treatment conducted.