title: Serum fetuin-A and recurrent urolithiasis in young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recurrence of urolithiasis is frequent. There are no reliable markers able to indicate recurrent stone former patients. Fetuin-A inhibits hydroxyapatite crystals formation and expansion. This study aims at evaluating whether serum fetuin-A may predict recurrent urolithiasis in young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a multicentre study. Young adults patients with recurrent urolithiasis attending 3 urology clinics were enrolled from July 2011 to December 2012. Inclusion criteria were: age 18-40 years, presence of more than one kidney stone. Exclusion criteria were: diabetes mellitus, metabolic disorders, obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, infection diseases. Controls were participants without history of urolithiasis and currently undetected stones. Routine biochemistry, serum concentration of oxalate, fetuin-A, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were assessed; 24/h urinary excretion of creatinine, uric acid, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, glucose, oxalate, amylase, and protein was measured. Kidney ultrasonography and plain X-ray examination was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total cohort was represented by 120 young adults participants (90 patients, and 30 controls). Clinical characteristics were not different between patients and controls. No significant differences were found in serum concentrations as well as in 24/h urinary excretion of recorded variables. No significant difference was found in serum concentration of fetuin-A (median 35.1 ± 18.62 SD Vs 35.12 ± 14.12, μg/ml; p = 0,908).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data of present study do not substantiate the hypothesis that serum fetuin-A may be a reliable predictor of recurrent urolithiasis in young adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Obstetric and Urology, University Federico II, Naples. ester.illiano@inwind.it.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prezioso
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saita
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porena
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Micheli
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Illiano
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bruzzese
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bisesti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Tullio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lotti
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Russo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D052878:Urolithiasis / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein