Pharmacotherapy of urolithiasis: Evidence from clinical trials

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

92 Scopus citations

Abstract

Urolithiasis is a worldwide problem with significant health and economic burdens. Medical therapy that alters the course of stone disease has enormous medical and financial impact. Urolithiasis is a final manifestation of a broad range of etiologies and pathogenesis. The modest progress in understanding the pathophysiology has hampered successful development of targeted therapy. Current regimens are based mostly on rational alteration of urinary biochemistry and physical chemistry to lower the risk of precipitation. In terms of pharmacotherapy, there are drugs to successfully improve hypercalciuria, hypocitraturia, aciduria, hyperuricosuria, and hypercystinuria. These agents have been proven to be effective in randomized controlled trials in improving urinary biochemical and physicochemical risk factors, as well as clinical outcomes. Although our current regimens have clearly improved the management and lives of stone formers, there are still clearly identifiable immense voids in the knowledge of pathophysiology of stone disease that can be filled with combined basic science and clinical studies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)385-392
Number of pages8
JournalKidney international
Volume79
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2011

Keywords

  • clinical trial
  • hypercalciuria
  • kidney disease: improving global outcomes
  • kidney stones
  • pathophysiology of renal disease and progression

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nephrology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Pharmacotherapy of urolithiasis: Evidence from clinical trials'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this