Chemical composition of urinary tract calculi assessed by a basic method

Marlene Tapper; Rory Thompson; Lowell Dilworth; Donovan McGrowder

Volume : VII, Issue : VII, July - 2017

Chemical composition of urinary tract calculi assessed by a basic method

Marlene Tapper, Rory Thompson, Lowell Dilworth, Donovan Mcgrowder

Abstract :

Background: Urolithiasis is the presence or formation of stones at any anatomic location in the genitourinary system. It is a common condition, which affects both genders but has a predilection for males. Both environmental and genetic factors contribute to calculi formation. This retrospective study sought to determine the chemical composition of the inorganic minerals, which constitutes the uroliths at the University Hospital of the West Indies for the 4–year period January 2009 to December 2012.

Method: The study was conducted on 288 urinary tract stones received at the Chemistry laboratory. Qualitative chemical analysis was performed for calcium, magnesium, phosphate, oxalate, uric acid, cystine and bicarbonate by Wootton’s method.

Results: The incidence of males and females was in the ratio of 1.4:1. Calcium was present in 96.2% of the stones, followed by phosphate 67.7%, oxalate 56.3%, magnesium 28.2% and uric acid 17.3%. Mixed uric acid was present in 16.3% and urinary stones containing bicarbonate accounted for 11.8%. There was one cystine stone.

Conclusion: A relatively high proportion of the urinary tract stones consisted of both pure and mixed calcium phosphate, followed by calcium oxalate and uric acid. More detailed information on both the composition and structure of the urinary tract stones may be garnered using more advanced methodology.