Lithogenic risk factors in normal black volunteers, and black and white recurrent stone formers.

OBJECTIVE

To compare lithogenic risk factors in normal black volunteer men (BN), male black stone formers (BSF) and male white recurrent stone formers (WSF); in addition, the differential diagnoses in the stone formers were compared to determine if the causes of renal stones differed in the two groups.

METHODS

The study included 22 BN, 22 consecutive BSF and 122 consecutive WSF seen over a 10-year period. Each subject was assessed by a thorough medical history, dietary analysis and a full serum and urinary biochemical evaluation.

RESULTS

Although the WSF were significantly more overweight (P<0.001) and obese (P<0.001) than the BSF, neither group had values significantly different from those of their respective normal populations. There was no significant difference in serum levels of Ca, phosphorus, ionised Ca, calcitriol and alkaline phosphatase in BSF and WSF, but levels of parathyroid hormone tended to be (P<0.1) and calcitriol was significantly higher in BSF than WSF (P<0.03). The BSF urinary excretion levels tended to be more like that of the WSF, with the following pattern present; BN

CONCLUSIONS

Although the urine of BSF tends to be more like that of WSF, the lithogenic risk factors present differed and were less severe. The increase in urinary calcium excretion, coupled with a lower citrate excretion, may be the most important reason for stone formation in the black population. An increased protein intake may also play a role. In this small group of BSF there was no family history of urolithiasis, supporting the view that there may be a more prominent genetic influence in WSF.