Prevalence and metabolic abnormalities of vitamin D-inadequate patients presenting with urolithiasis to a tertiary stone clinic

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence and metabolic abnormalities of patients with inadequate vitamin D (VD) presenting with urolithiasis to a tertiary stone clinic in North America.

Material and methods: A retrospective review of consecutive patients presenting from August 2009 to January 2010 was performed. Demographic and clinical data were collected together with metabolic stone workup, including 2 24-hour urine collections and serum 25-hydroxy VD [25(OH)D]. VD inadequacy (VDI) included VD deficiency and VD insufficiency defined as 25-(OH) VD levels <20 ng/mL and 21-29 ng/mL, respectively.

Results: Of 101 patients, 81 (80.2%) were found to have VDI: 34 (33.7%) were deficient and 47 (46.5%) had insufficient VD. Mean age was 50.4 ± 15.8 years and the mean body mass index was 28.7 ± 5.8 kg/m(2). Forty-two percent were smokers, 51% were recurrent stone formers, and 54% had positive family history of urolithiasis. Hyperparathyroidism was detected in 25.9% of patients, of which 91% of them were secondary to VDI. Hypocalcemia and hyperuricemia were found in 36% and 11% of patients, respectively. Of 81 VDI patients, 69 (85.2%) had complete 24-hour urine collections, of which 92.7% had at least one abnormality. However, only 40% of patients with normal VD had metabolic abnormalities (P <.0001). The most prevalent pattern of urinary abnormalities in VDI patients were suboptimal volume (45%), hypocitaturia (24%), hypocalciuria (33%), hypercalciuria (20%), hyperuricosuria (16%), cystinuria (5%), and hyperoxaluria (7.2%).

Conclusion: In this preliminary study, patients presenting with urolithiasis were found to have a high prevalence of inadequate VD associated with abnormalities on metabolic stone work-up.