Bisphosphonates in the management of idiopathic hypercalciuria associated with osteoporosis: a new trick from an old drug

Idiopathic hypercalciuria (IHC) is defined as a 24-hour urinary calcium excretion that exceeds 4 mg/kg/day, regardless of gender and in absence of systemic diseases or pharmacological treatments that may cause normocalcemic hypercalciuria (eg sarcoidosis, normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D intoxication, hyperthyroidism). Patients with IHC and nephrolithiasis often present increased bone turnover, decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and increased susceptibility to fragility fractures. Although the pathogenesis of IHC seems complex and multifactorial, recent evidences suggest that cells involved in bone resorption may play a critical role in the chain of events leading to the excessive urinary calcium excretion. Therefore, it has been proposed that bisphosphonates, potent inhibitors of bone resorption, may have beneficial effects in hypercalciuric patients with low BMD. This manuscript reports recent findings regarding the role of bone tissue in the pathogenesis of IHC, and supports the use of bisphosphonates in such conditions. It also reviews the literature on the effects of bisphosphonates in subjects with osteoporosis-associated IHC.