Idiopathic hypercalciuria associated with hyperreninemia and high urinary prostaglandin E

A patient with idiopathic hypercalciuria and some features suggestive of Bartter syndrome is reported. Excessive urinary prostaglandin E (PGE) excretion and renal calcium leak were documented in this child. Treatment with aspirin and indomethacin reduced urinary PGE excretion and was associated with a decrease in daily calcium excretion. At the lowest levels of urinary PGE, the renal calcium leak was no longer evident although mild hypercalciuria persisted. These results suggest that PGE may play a role in some cases of idiopathic hypercalciuria.

[Histo-radiologic correlations in patients with primary hyperoxaluria]

The use of new dialythic technics has increased the survival times for patients with primary hyperoxaluria. From here the possibility of visualizing X-rays signs specific of oxalosis besides the typical bone lesions of hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic renal failure. Recent hysto-pathological studies allowed to correlate such radiological findings to a new pathogenetical mechanism that would be responsible of the bone lesion specific for oxalosis and that might be caused by the presence of reabsorption cavities made up by macrophagic cells fagocyting cristals.

Primary hyperoxaluria (glycolic acid variant): a clinical and genetical investigation of eight cases

The clinical features of eight cases of primary hyperoxaluria have been summarized. The possibility of different phenotypes is discussed. A reduction, but no normalization, of the oxalate formation during pyridoxine therapy was found. A renal transplantation performed in one of the patients failed because of the formation of nephrocalcinosis.