Blood Calcium, Phosphorus and Phosphatase in Urinary Lithiasis

Extensive study of the etiology of urinary lithiasis by numerous workers has failed to produce a factor which can be considered as primary in all cases of stone formation in the urinary tract. However, much knowledge has been gained regarding predisposing and contributing factors. The relationship of infection and stasis to the occurrence of urinary lithiasis has been mentioned repeatedly,¹and the role of urinary colloids and crystalloids in the formation of stones has been referred to.²The urinary excretion of such substances as cystine³and uric acid⁴are known to predispose to calculi of similar composition, and vitamin deficiencies, diseases of nutrition⁵and other metabolic disorders⁶and organic diseases⁷have been studied and designated as factors of an importance which varies widely with individual authors. Since so many urinary stones are compounded calcium and phosphatic salts, studies of calcium and phosphorus metabolism