[Biochemical effects of potassium citrate in the treatment of calcium oxalate lithiasis].

The serum and urinary biochemical changes observed one month and six months after oral potassium citrate therapy (600 mEq/day) in 119 patients with calcium oxalate calculi were compared with those of 16 untreated cases with lithiasis. The patients that received treatment were previously divided into two groups: group A comprised 61 hypocitraturic patients and group B comprised 58 patients with other urinary disorders who were normo or hypocitraturic. The urinary pH increased by approximately half a point in both treated groups. In group A calciuria increased slightly from 180 +/- 8 to 216 +/- 10 mg/24 h but remained within the normal ranges. Creatinuria, oxaluria, uricosuria and diuresis showed no changes. Citraturia increased very significantly in both groups and more markedly in the hypocitraturic group of patients (from 198 +/- 13 to 476 +/- 35 mg/24 h). The LRC (lithogenic risk coefficient = Ca/Cit x Diu) dropped by 50%. The patients tolerated the treatment regimen well; of the 119 treated patients, only 11 abandoned treatment due to GI intolerance.