[Risk indicators of urinary calculus formation: value of oxalate and citrate excretion in comparison with the oxalate tolerance value].

Several methods for the measurement of crystallization conditions in urine, the so-called whole urine systems, have recently been of considerable interest in urolithiasis research. The diagnostic accuracy of the oxalate tolerance value (OTV) was therefore compared with the daily excretion of oxalate and citrate in normal persons and patients with urinary calculi. With the aid of the oxalate/citrate ratio, 77% of the patients could be classified correctly. After standardization of the experimental conditions (24-h urine sample, constant pH value, consideration of endogenous oxalate) we succeeded in correctly classifying 82% of patients using the OTV. These results favour the introduction of the OTV as a clinical chemical tool for the follow-up of patients with urinary calculi and for the screening of normal persons at risk.