title: Evaluating the effectiveness of adding magnesium chloride to conventional protocol of citrate alkali therapy on kidney stone size.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Potassium citrate (K-Cit) is one of the therapeutic solutions broadly used in patients with urolithiasis. However, recent studies have shown that it is not so effective. Therefore, the goal of our study was to evaluate the effect of a combination of K-Cit - MgCl2oral supplements, on urinary stone size.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed on 70 asymptomatic urolithiasis cases. The supplements included K-Cit and magnesium chloride (MgCl2), purchased from (Merck Company, Germany). The patients were randomly divided into two groups. The urinary stone size was measured in the control group after prescribing K-Cit alone and the treated group with combination of K-Cit and MgCl2for 4 weeks by ultrasonography and also urinary parameter was measured in each groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients was 16.26 ± 5.70 years. Hyperoxaluria and hypercalciuria were seen in 70% and 52% of patients, respectively. Initially, the mean urinary stone size was measured in each groups and there is not any significant different. However, we find a significant decrease in urinary stone size in group which is treated with combination of K-Cit and MgCl2for 4 weeks in comparison with control group treated with K-Cit alone in the same duration of therapeutic course (5.1 ± 0.8 vs. 2.5 ± 1.2,P< 0.05). All ultrasonography were performed by one radiologist and device.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggested that a combination of K-Cit and MgCl2chloride is more effective on decreasing urinary stone size than K-Cit alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Imam Reza Hospital, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Niroomand
authors.affiliation: Medical Student Research Center, Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziaee
authors.affiliation: Parseh Radiology Center, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Keivan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ziaee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Alaleh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gheissari
keywords: Magnesium chloride; potassium citrate; urolithiasis