OBJECTIVE: To determine the metabolic characteristics of elderly patients with recurrent calcium oxalate stones. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Metabolic abnormalities were investigated in 88 patients with recurrent calcium oxalate stones, including 70 aged <60 years and 18 aged >/=60 years. The frequency of each metabolic abnormality and the value of each urinary constituent were compared among subgroups of age and gender. RESULTS: Hyperoxaluria was the most common abnormality, present in 56% and 67% of patients aged <60 and >/=60 years, respectively. Hyperuricosuria was significantly more common in older than in younger patients. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia between the age groups. The urinary excretion of oxalate and the ratio of oxalate to creatinine were significantly greater in older than in younger men. The frequency of low urine volume was lower in older than in younger patients and the mean urinary volume was also greater in the older group. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperuricosuria and hyperoxaluria seem to be essential risk factors for calcium oxalate stone formation in elderly patients. Urinary oxalate excretion is significantly greater in older than in younger stone formers and is more prominent in men.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the metabolic characteristics of elderly patients with recurrent calcium oxalate stones. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Metabolic abnormalities were investigated in 88 patients with recurrent calcium oxalate stones, including 70 aged <60 years and 18 aged >/=60 years. The frequency of each metabolic abnormality and the value of each urinary constituent were compared among subgroups of age and gender. RESULTS:Hyperoxaluria was the most common abnormality, present in 56% and 67% of patients aged <60 and >/=60 years, respectively. Hyperuricosuria was significantly more common in older than in younger patients. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia between the age groups. The urinary excretion of oxalate and the ratio of oxalate to creatinine were significantly greater in older than in younger men. The frequency of low urine volume was lower in older than in younger patients and the mean urinary volume was also greater in the older group. CONCLUSIONS:Hyperuricosuria and hyperoxaluria seem to be essential risk factors for calcium oxalate stone formation in elderly patients. Urinary oxalate excretion is significantly greater in older than in younger stone formers and is more prominent in men.