Potential biochemical factors for the development of urolithiasis in patients with spinal cord injuries

: A comparative analysis of biochemical parameters of blood serum and daily urine in patients with urolithiasis developed after spinal cord injury (study group--35 patients) and patients without development of the disease (comparison group--20 patients) was performed. It was found that patients after spinal cord injury have developed productive azotemia, which led to the disruption of renal excretory function (accumulation of urea and creatinine in blood, and lowering their clearance). Against this background, there is violation of excretion of uric acid, magnesium, decreased sensitivity of the renal tubules to aldosterone (in patients with nephrolithiasis K/Na ratio in urine was lower). As a result, patients have decreased reabsorption of sodium and water retention, increased urine osmolality; against the background of electrolyte imbalance in urine, this leads to the formation of stones. In patients with spinal cord injuries, main trigger mechanism of formation of urinary stones was excessive posttraumatic azotemia. The high concentration of the products of protein-nitrogen catabolism in the serum of patients in the acute and early periods of spinal cord injury may be unfavorable criterion determining the significant risk of developing of kidney stones.