title: Bone mass loss in calcium stone disease: focus on hypercalciuria and metabolic factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several authors have observed that idiopathic calcium stone formers show a bone mass reduction, which is more evident in those with idiopathic hypercalciuria. The aim of this work was the evaluation of osteopenia and osteoporosis rate in a group of idiopathic calcium stone formers. The influence of hypercalciuria, nutritional factors and anthropometric parameters on bone mass was evaluated in these patients as well.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 196 idiopathic calcium stone formers; 102 males, and 94 females. All subjects underwent a metabolic study. BMC and BMD were evaluated as well as QUS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Males showed greater weight, height, BMI, densitometric values and plasma creatinine, uric acid, urea, sodium, magnesium, GFR and urinary osmolarity than females. Moreover males excreted more uric acid, urea, creatinine, sulphate, phosphate, oxalate and citrate than females. The prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis, according to T-score, was 54% and 14% respectively. Hypercalciuria was demonstrated in 21.7% of the patients. Hypercalciuric men showed a higher excretion of urea, phosphate, sulphate and magnesium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm the importance of QUS in the evaluation of stone formers' bone mass. Anthropometric characteristics and dietary habits seem to play a role in bone loss. We did not demonstrate any influence of hypercalciuria on bone mass. Although the pathogenesis of bone loss in stone formers still remains unclear, it can be hypothesized that a slight degree of metabolic acidosis, probably of alimentary origin, may be involved in the reduction of bone mass.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Kidney Transplant, Unit of Mineral Metabolism, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. renataca@med.unibo.it
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caudarella
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vescini
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buffa
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sinicropi
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rizzoli
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Manna
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stefoni
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000652:urine; D002128:Calcium Metabolism Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002137:Calculi / Q000737:chemistry*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium