Blood cellular and biochemical changes after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

The present study deals with blood cell behaviour and related hematochemical changes occurring in man after exposure to extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). The following parameters have been investigated, before and after treatment, in a longitudinal study carried out on 58 patients of our Center: RBC count, Ht, Blood Hb, Plasma Hb, autohemolysis after 72 hours, bilirubinemia, WBC count, platelet count, in vitro platelet aggregation, beta-TG, sideremia and urinary post-exposure transferrin concentration. After exposure to ESWL, with pulse numbers ranging from 350 to 3,000, 18-20 KV, direct and indirect evidences of hemolysis have been found when number of SW exceeded 1,000. The hemolysis rate in different models of in vitro exposure to ESWL of blood samples was also investigated. Increase of WBC count, and changes of the platelet in vitro aggregation patterns were also observed. Changes in sideremia values have been related to urinary loss of transferrin.