The etiology of urolithiasis in Udaipur (western part of India)

Abstract

Fifty-two cases of urinary tract calculus disease were investigated for dietary habits, routine chemical and microscopic urinalysis, bacterial culture, quantitative analysis of 24 h urine sample and qualitative analysis of the stones. 54 out of the 56 stones analysed were of mixed type. Magnesium ammonium phosphate was present in 78.2% stones. Dietary habits revealed principal dependence on cereals, lack of animal proteins, consumption of oxalate rich vegetables and widespread consumption of tea. Urinary tract infection was present in 63.7% of the cases. Significant calcium oxalate crystalluria (2+ to 4+) was present in 34.6% of the cases. Hyperoxaluria, hypercalciuria associated with hyperoxaluria-lower excretion of magnesium and citric acid were important urinary risk factors in the local population. These observations strongly suggest the multifactorial etiology of stone disease in this region. Imbalanced nutrition and urinary tract infection were the principal risk factors for urolithiasis in this study.