title: Prevention of spinal bone loss by potassium citrate in cases of calcium urolithiasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We determine if potassium citrate treatment stabilizes spinal bone density among patients with recurrent calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied a group of 16 men and 5 women with stones taking potassium citrate from 11 to 120 months. They represented all patients from the Stone Clinic who took potassium citrate alone for at least 11 months. L2-L4 bone mineral density data before and after potassium citrate treatment were retrieved retrospectively and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the combined group L2-L4 bone mineral density increased significantly by 3.1% over mean duration of 44 months. Z score, corrected for age matched normal values, increased significantly by 3.8%. Urinary pH, citrate and potassium increased significantly during treatment but urinary calcium did not change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Potassium citrate, a commonly used drug for the prevention of recurrent nephrolithiasis, may avert age dependent bone loss. Spinal bone density increased in most patients when it normally decreases.
authors.affiliation: Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Charles Y C
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Pak
authors.forename: Roy D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poindexter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine; D019357:Potassium Citrate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D019357:Potassium Citrate