Hypercalciuria and Hyperuricosuria in Patients with Calcium Nephrolithiasis

MOUNTING evidence indicates that two disorders, idiopathic hypercalciuria and hyperuricosuria, account for approximately 65 per cent of calcium stones in patients without a better known cause of nephrolithiasis. Of 230 patients studied during the past five years in the Michael Reese Hospital kidney-stone program, only 84 had a well established cause of stones (Table 1). The urine of the remaining 146 patients, who would usually be considered to have idiopathic recurrent stone formation,1 contained excessive amounts of calcium and uric acid. Because it has become clear that both hypercalciuria and hyperuricosuria can participate in the formation of calcium stones, it . . .