Basic studies on the cause of urolithiasis. 3. Role of urinary citrate in urolithiasis

Abstract

Studies were performed to measure urinary citrate exc r e tion and calcium-citrate ratio of urine samples obtained from normal subjects, patients with urolithiasis and animals given CAI or PTE, all of which were under controled diet, and from pregnant women under regular diet. For urine from urolithiasis, citrate-creatinine ratio and relationship between citrate and bacterial infection were also investigated. 1) Calcium-citrate ratio showed increases in the urine from urolithiasis and CAI administered subjects. Citrate-creatinine ratio showed a decrease in the urine from urolithiasis. Much citrate excretion was found in urine from pregnant women. 2) In urine from patients with bacterial infection, citrate e x cretion tended to be decreased. 3) It was supposed that urinary calcium ion and citric acid concentrations participated in cause of urolithiasis.