title: Metabolic-mineral study in patients with renal calcium lithiasis, severe lithogenic activity and loss of bone mineral density.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study assessed the presence of osteoporosis/osteopenia in patients with severe lithogenic activity and compared their metabolisms with those in patients without lithiasis or with mild lithogenic activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a sample of 182 patients, those with osteopenia/osteoporosis at the hip and lumbar spine were studied separately in a two-pronged study. 66 patients with bone mineral densities (BMDs) < -1 standard deviation (SD) on a T-score scale at the hip were divided into three groups: group A1 without lithiasis (n = 15); group A2 with lithiasis and mild lithogenic activity (n = 22); and group A3 with lithiasis and severe lithogenic activity (n = 29). Similarly, 86 patients with BMDs < -1 SD on a T-score scale at the lumbar spine were divided into three groups: group B1 without lithiasis (n = 15); group B2 with lithiasis and mild lithogenic activity (n = 29); and group B3 with lithiasis and severe lithogenic activity (n = 42).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients from group A3 exhibited significantly higher levels of bone remodelling markers as compared to groups A1 and A2. Urinalysis also revealed higher excretion of calcium in 24-hour assessments in this group. Patients from group B3 differed from groups B1 and B2 mainly in bone remodelling markers and 24-hour urinary calcium excretion, which were significantly elevated in patients from group B3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with calcium lithiasis and severe lithogenic activity in addition to osteopenia/osteoporosis present with higher levels of hypercalciuria and negative osseous balance, which possibly perpetuate and favour lithiasic activity.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, San Cecilio University Hospital, Granada, Spain. arrabalp@ono.com
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arrabal-Polo
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arrabal-Martin
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arias-Santiago
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garrido-Gomez
authors.forename: Tomas De
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: De Haro-Muñoz
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zuluaga-Gomez
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D002118:Calcium / Q000652:urine*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053565:Hypercalciuria / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D015994:Incidence; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053040:Nephrolithiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium