Abstract

GUILLEN, Rosa et al. Metabolic assessment of pediatric patients with urolithiasis. Pediatr. (Asunción) [online]. 2011, vol.38, n.2, pp.87-92. ISSN 1683-9803.

Introduction: Urolithiasis is a condition involving the appearance of calculi (stones) of varied chemical composition in the kidney and urinary tract that are the result of a complex process involving physiologically induced biochemical imbalances bring about an increase in factors promoting crystallization and a reduction of factors that inhibit the crystallization of the various substances present in urine.  Although more common in adults, it is also a significant health problem in children due to the serious consequences it entails. Objectives: - To determine the values ​​of analytes with lithogenic potential or that inhibit crystallization in blood and urine samples of pediatric patients diagnosed with urolithiasis and describe the clinical and nutritional habits of these patients. Material and Methods: An observational, descriptive, transversal study in which values were determined for analytes with lithogenic potential or that inhibit crystallization in the blood and urine samples of 93 pediatric patients of both sexes with a diagnosis of urolithiasis who presented at the Health Sciences Research Institute (IICS) between June 2009 and June 2010. Results: Of all patients, 45.2% were children (n=42, mean age 9±4 years) and 54.8% were girls (n=51, mean age 10±4 years), while 6% (n=6) were overweight. Changes in the values ​​for potential lithogenic parameters were identified in 55.9% of patients. Hypocitraturia, hypomagnesemia, hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria were the most common metabolic disorders. The most frequent reasons for consultation were abdominal pain, hematuria, and urinary tract infections. A family history of kidney stones was reported by 46% of patients. Insufficient production of urine was detected in 61.3% of children. Conclusion: These findings point out the importance of metabolic evaluation as a tool to guide proper diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords : Urolithiasis; metabolic evaluation; pediatrics.

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